Like any other business, farm survival is best achieved by those who remain nimble and can adjust their business plans to accommodate the needs and desires of their customer base while generating more income for themselves. Agritourism is an excellent option to reach those goals and, fortunately, there are laws across the country that support…
A Cottage Food Business Primer
As a potential cottage food entrepreneur, you must do your homework and understand your state and local rules before proceeding; however, there are some general principles you can expect to confront as you prepare recipes, product lists, and business plans. We aim to cover the basics here to help prepare you for what to expect…
Introduction to the Updated Red Meat Map & Chart
In 1967 Congress passed the Wholesome Meat Act, Public Law 90-201, amending the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The act expanded the federal government’s authority over meat slaughter and processing to intrastate commerce but did create exemptions from the requirement that an inspector be present when slaughtering is taking place. The Wholesome Meat Act allowed the “uninspected” slaughter of meat animals at a custom facility as long as the owner…
Is Your Farm Covered by the FSMA Produce Rules?
This article focuses on the aspects of the FSMA most relevant to farms we assist. The FSMA standards were structured to roll out in phases and the largest businesses were the first required to meet deadlines by which they must adopt certain food safety practices, followed by the smaller players. We will focus here on small and very…
Small Farms Can Help Address Food Waste
The stunning food waste that is one of many unexpected consequences of COVID-19 has made us all painfully aware of how highly vulnerable industrial farms are to sudden fluctuations in demand and pullbacks on the regular flow of commerce…