Webinar to cover business, science of home-based food

Monday, March 5, 2012

Just in time for the farmer's market season, a series of Purdue University online workshops will provide up-to-date information for entrepreneurs selling food products from their own kitchens or gardens.

"Cooking Up a Food Business in the Home Kitchen: Opportunities and Challenges of Starting or Growing a Home-Based Vendor Food Enterprise" will address issues of safety and profitability in three weekly webcasts beginning March 20. The webcasts will be streamed live online, so viewers can watch at home or at their local Purdue Extension office. The sessions will also be available as recordings.

Topics will cover legal requirements for home-based food businesses, basic food science and microorganism control, tools and techniques to improve quality and safety, safe preparation practices in the home kitchen, and safe handling practices at farmers' markets and roadside stands.

"In our current economic situation, people are looking for options. This webinar is a great opportunity for people to explore the option of a home-based food business and to learn the legal limits and requirements of running that business," said Katie Clayton, Extension outreach specialist in Purdue University's Department of Food Science.

The webinar's introductory session on food science is helpful for new and experienced vendors alike, Clayton said.

"Many vendors have been cooking for years, but there are a lot of things that people do 'just because.' This session will help people to understand from a science standpoint why they need to do things in certain ways and not just because Mom said so."

More information can be found at ag.purdue.edu/foodsci/Pages/extension.aspx.

Early registration is due by March 16 and costs $20 per person viewing all sessions, with no fee for additional attendees from the same household. Cost for individual sessions is $8 per person. There is a late fee of $10 per person for registration after March 16. For more information please contact either Ann Delchambre or Jackie Baumann at 653-8411 or email adelchambre@purdue.edu.

Upcoming events

March 10 -- Ag Day -- Putnam County Fairgrounds

March 12 -- E. H. Leader Lesson, "Nutrition and Cancer", at Extension Office, 1 p.m.

March 12 -- Indiana Master Naturalist Program -- Park County

March 13 -- E.H. Program Planning meeting, at Extension Office, 7 p.m.

March 14 -- E. H. Spring District Meeting in Terre Haute

March 15 -- GAPs workshop in Parke County

March 20 -- West Central Indiana Lawn Care and Landscape Preseason Tune-up -- Montgomery Co.

March 20 -- Cooking Up a Food Business in the Home Kitchen -- Putnam Extension office

March 22 -- Farmers Market Boot Camp Series (Safety Plans and Liability Issues) -- Indianapolis farm Bureau

Registration now open for Spring 2012 Dining with Diabetes classes, contact Extension Office.

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