Value-Added Food Start Up Intro
Hello, everyone! Today, I want to discuss an interesting journey at our farm involving value-added food products. This exploration could lead to a new stream of income. While I won’t get into specifics just yet, I’m excited to share insights that might be useful for you and fellow small businesses in your community.
A Resourceful Course Developed by the Hannah Grimes Center
During my time in New Hampshire, I discovered the Hannah Grimes Center, which supports startup businesses with workshops and resources, including consulting services. They offer a consulting service for $150 per hour. Intrigued, I signed up for their value-added food product startup course, led by ANCA here in the Adirondacks in New York. ANCA gained access to this program to benefit our community. If you’d like to learn more, please let me know and I’ll ask for more info during the next session.
Learning and Collaboration in the Course
Joining me in this course are two colleagues from Little Farmhouse Flowers. Other participants include a baker, a meat farmer, an aspiring vineyard owner, and a co-op chef exploring opportunities for her grab-and-go soups. Also present are two college students aiming to develop a beverage line.
This diverse group creates a stimulating learning environment. So far, we’ve covered product development, target audiences, and marketing strategies. I’m looking forward to the next modules and learning more about food product production.
Using AI for Business Growth
The course uses AI to support our learning. Live presenters lead discussions, and AI prompts, assist with crafting pitches and refining marketing messages.
First Year Flowering Cold Hardy Lavender
For my own value-added, food-based start up project, I wanted to have access to lavender (among other plants), but I didn’t want to have to invest a lot of money into it. I’m using a cold-hardy lavender variety called Ellagance from Johnny’s Seeds. I started the seeds in our basement, under lights. The germination was great. It is an award-winning, first year flowering variety.
Commitment to Growth and Discovery
The eight-week start-up course requires commitment, with weekly three-hour sessions. Recordings are available if I miss a session. While it is online, the coordinators encourage participation and idea sharing. Our little group has learned a lot about each other.
Conclusion: Embracing New Ideas with Value-Added Products
Value-added products offer an exciting path in our industry. I think looking past the most common value-added options can be a way to differentiate flower farms. Stay tuned for updates on this journey.