Farm To Retail Program

The aim of this 10-class program is to provide entrepreneurs who may be small or medium-sized farmers and food product owners, the knowledge, skills, and networking opportunities to turn their recipes into retail-ready products. In partnership with Waterloo Region Small Business Centre, Woolwich Township, and Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures

Outcomes

• Develop the skills and knowledge of how to turn a small-batch recipe into a scalable recipe for large-scale production and retail sale
• Explore opportunities for, and application of, sustainable food business practices
• Understand the basics of the psychology of food branding, purchasing behavior, and best practices for building a food-specific marketing strategy
• Understand and apply principles of food packaging and nutrition labeling requirements as per Canadian
• Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Increase understanding of principles of food safety and safe food production techniques
• Learn the methods behind scaling a small batch recipe into a scalable recipe formulation
• Entrepreneurs will leave with the basic knowledge to be able to finance, package, label, brand, and market their own food product.

Syllabus