PLEASE HELP! Trying to start a new homemade food business (Atlantic City: rent, schools)

[Cyndi D]

I am in need of advice in starting a new business. I am trying to begin a home based food business. I would like to start by joining a once a week farmer's market and selling there. In order for me to sell food I need to be insured and it needs to be prepared in a commercial kitchen. I have no idea even what constitutes a commercial kitchen. I have sent a request for information to the NJ dept. of Agriculture and food and drug admin., but I am wondering if anyone has any advice or has run into these obstacles. Also, I am wondering if anyone knows of any community commercial kitchens in the area. I am willling to travel anywhere from Atlantic City to Philadelphia. I've read about these in New York and some of them even offer start up planning advice to new businesses....anyone know about anything remotely close to this existing??? Somthing like this could also benefit local growers. Does anyone have any ideas about government funding or university backing for a project like this??? Any input or feedback would be so helpful to me as I am VERY inexperienced. Thank you!

[jay_bones15]

Originally Posted by Cyndi D

I am in need of advice in starting a new business. I am trying to begin a home based food business. I would like to start by joining a once a week farmer's market and selling there. In order for me to sell food I need to be insured and it needs to be prepared in a commercial kitchen. I have no idea even what constitutes a commercial kitchen. I have sent a request for information to the NJ dept. of Agriculture and food and drug admin., but I am wondering if anyone has any advice or has run into these obstacles. Also, I am wondering if anyone knows of any community commercial kitchens in the area. I am willling to travel anywhere from Atlantic City to Philadelphia. I've read about these in New York and some of them even offer start up planning advice to new businesses....anyone know about anything remotely close to this existing??? Somthing like this could also benefit local growers. Does anyone have any ideas about government funding or university backing for a project like this??? Any input or feedback would be so helpful to me as I am VERY inexperienced. Thank you!

You need to contact the HEALTH DEPARTMENT. You are running (or trying to run) a food business, not a farm..the agricultural dept. has nothing to do with this. You need to either contract with a local restaurant (ie, rent their kitchen during hours they are closed)...contact every public place that might prepare foods (like schools, firehalls, etc) and see if you cant rent their kitchens. If the kitchens are inspected, all you might need is a food handlers license. Start by walking into the health department where you want to set up shop and ask them. If they seem uncooperative..try another county. Health Departments in NJ are county run..

Good luck, and realize that you are running a food business, so don't expect much in the way of donations, unless you are really doing something charitable.

[Cyndi D]

Thanks so much, that was very helpful information.