Agribusiness and Food Specialty Centers
What does the Agribusiness and Food Specialty Center Do ?
1. The Center offers one-on-one consulting
specific to organic, natural and specialty food issues, and assists
agribusiness entrepreneurs to access industry research.
2. The Center Schedules regular educational
programs, presentations, and speakers geared toward agribusiness and
specialty food markets, including ServSafe training for food
handlers.
3. The Center acts as a one-stop-shop to link you
to USDA, agricultural extension agents, research entities, marketing
and industry statistics, and product testing labs, as well as
partners with Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program, Northern
Tier Regional Planning and Development Commission, and key
associations to best address the needs of individuals who wish to
take a product to market.
4. The Center follows your progress along six
phases from idea development to product commercialization.
* Idea Development: analyze product
need, profitability, market. Assist with referrals for prototype
development.
* Taste Panel and Consumer Sampling:
evaluate product color, texture, flavor; linkage to outside
consultants, PennTAP and other expertise.
* Shelf-Life: contract with independent
consultants/labs for shelf-life testing.
* Packaging / Labeling: research
packaging models and proper ingredient labeling.
* Production and Test Marketing: select
manufacturing process; introduce product to limited target area.
* Commercialization Process: wider
product distribution and manufacturing.
We will
link you to the agencies who will help you get your product to
market, monitoring your progress along the way !
Other Agribusiness assistance:
The Center assists with business and marketing plan development,
loan packaging and links to capital formation for proposed
ventures. Experienced staff consultants can also help you in the
following areas:
A. Start up cost analysis
B. Industry research
C. Strategic planning
D. Product positioning
E. Loan packaging
So what does all this cost?
Because the Agribusiness and Food Specialty Centers are funded by a
grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, there is no cost for
the one-on-one assistance you will receive by staff consultants in
many areas. Registration fees are associated with training and
educational programs and there are, typically, fees associated with
product testing, packaging, shelf-life testing and labeling, which
often use outside consultants and labs. The Center will work with
you and its referral partners to ensure that you understand any
costs before you incur them.
Where are the Centers Located?
The main Center hubs are located at the University of Scranton SBDC,
and the Pennsylvania College of Technology, Wellsboro Branch
Campus. Clients from the Bradford and Tioga area can visit the
Agribusiness Center in Wellsboro. Clients from Lackawanna,
Susquehanna and Wyoming counties can meet a staff consultant either
at the University of Scranton location, or at Keystone College in
LaPlume. For more information, contact the Center of your choice
below.
Scranton: (570) 941-7588 or
800-829-7232
Contact: Maria Montenegro or Elaine Tweedy
The University of Scranton SBDC
800 Linden Street, Scranton, PA 18510
Wellsboro: (570) 724-7703
Contact: Susan Dillon
The Pennsylvania College of Technology
Wellsboro Campus, 12880 Route 6
Wellsboro, PA 16901
A
Program of The University of Scranton Small Business Development
Center.
In partnership with the Northern Tier Regional
Planning and Development Commission, PennTAP, and Keystone College.
Funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission PA-15725-07.
This program serves Bradford, Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Tioga and
Wyoming counties.
