Business Management

If you’re thinking about starting a food service or retail business, understanding and complying with food safety regulations is crucial. Find all the information you need including food service and retail business management, working with the state Department of Agriculture, registering your business, marketing, and insurance. Access online food safety webinars and retail farm market online courses.

How to Start a Food Service or Retail Business

Starting any new business can be a challenge. There are so many things to consider, rules and regulations to comply with, and plans to have in place if you want to produce or sell food for profit. When you’re starting a food service or retail business, some very unique challenges have to be faced, as you’re providing food for consumption and a fundamental part of that is ensuring the food is safe.

To become a successful food entrepreneur, you have to be prepared to put in a lot of hard work and dedication. You must have a clear vision and be able to document that vision in a business plan. Being able to set the right prices for your product is a key skill that will also give you an advantage.

Food safety and hygiene feature high on the list of priorities for people in the food service and retail industry. Training and certification are vital if you want your establishment to meet relevant standards such as the Food Employee Certification Act. Part of this act requires managers or supervisors to be trained and certified in food safety.

Penn State Extension can offer training that meets the requirements with the ServSafe Food Safety Program. This workshop is also available in Spanish. You can prepare for the ServSafe exam by taking the TAP Series Online Food Safety Course. This online training course is for food managers, caterers, chefs, cooks, inspectors, and health officials. Topics covered include hygiene, health and food safety, foodborne illness, and the HACCP system.

Selling at a Farmer’s Market

The number of farmers markets in the United States has grown rapidly in recent years. From just under 2,000 in 1994, there are now more than 8,600 registered in the USDA Farmers Market Directory. In Pennsylvania, there has been a 30% growth in farmers markets in the last decade. In many cities, there are regional market networks, but many operate independently, or with the help of city or nonprofit partners.

If you want to become a vendor at a farmer’s market there are many things to consider. Customers choose to shop at farmers markets because there is an expectation that the food is fresh, high-quality, and produced by informed professionals.

Ensure your knowledge is up-to-date and comprehensive by joining the Penn State Extension Farm Market School. Learn about best practices for food preparation and handling, marketing, customer service, ordering, and receiving. At the end of the course, there’s a graded final course quiz and the chance to earn a certificate of course completion.

Knowing how to sell your produce is equally important. Pricing needs to be clear, and displays – attractive. Getting ready for farmer’s market season also means your permits need to be up to date.