Western North Carolina Economic Development Group

Blue Ridge Food Ventures is an 11,000 sq. ft. shared-use kitchen incubator and natural products manufacturing facility that offers support in product development, guidance through the maze of regulations governing safe production of food products and dietary supplements, advice on packaging and label design, and much more.

We're here to help people who dream--of getting their artisan food products to market, of running a baking or catering business, or even operating their own hot dog cart! We also help individuals and small businesses that want to make natural products and herbal dietary supplements, and get them into bottles and tubes and onto store shelves.

Upcoming Workshops:

Our next Starting Your Specialty Food Business Class Series will be in held in the Fall of 2012. Come back often for more information! If you can't wait till then, check out Mountain Biz Works for their classes.

CLASSES & EVENTS

Class on FDA Requirements for Natural Products: Good Manufacturing Practices
Upcoming sessions, both from 10am-4pm:
February 16-17, 2012
May 11 and 25, 2012

If you are thinking of making an herbal product that falls under the Dietary Supplements definition of the FDA, you will need to take a class on current Good Manufacturing Practices for Dietary Supplements where you will learn what is required by law to safely manufacture, label and market your product.

As a part of the class, you can also tour the new Natural Products Manufacturing Facility at Blue Ridge Food Venture to learn how you can make your products in our facility and easily meet the requirements of the law. The class will be held at the AB Tech/Enka Campus. If you have questions, call Chris Reedy: 828-348-0130.

"Pickle School" or Better Process Control School Coming Back to Asheville!

ACIDIFIED FOODS School
February 22-24, 2012
Holiday Inn Asheville
Biltmore West
Click here for more information.

Better Process Control School, perhaps better known as "Pickle School," is a 3-day class required by anyone wishing to produce pickles, chutneys, salsas, and many hot sauces and tomato products. Watch this space for details on the next session. Click here for lots more workshop information from NCSU.

WINTER SUN FARMS CSA

Blue Ridge Food Ventures operates Winter Sun Farms—a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that provides members with frozen fruits and vegetables from Western North Carolina farmers. The sustainably grown produce is harvested at its peak, then quickly prepared and frozen for wintertime enjoyment. Once a month from December through March, members receive an assortment of diced, sliced or chopped vegetables; scrumptious berries—red, black and blue; and vegetable purees ready to become instant soups or healthy dips. Eat local all year round—from farm to freezer to your table in no time.

Pickup sites for the 2011-2012 winter season are at Blue Ridge Food Ventures on the A-B Tech Enka campus in West Asheville; the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville; Hand in Hand Gallery in Flat Rock; and new this year--the Merry Wine Market in Black Mountain.

Sorry, but we are sold out of WSF shares for this season. CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up for our newsletter so you can place your order early next year and not miss out on this delicious opportunity. Thank you for your support.

TOURS

Tours of Blue Ridge Food Ventures are given by appointment only. After you have studied the website and would like to request a site visit, please contact us by email, preferably a week in advance, to set up a meeting.

Initial Tour and Consultation Fee $60 - Includes facility tour & overview of services offered: guidance on product development, regulatory issues and packaging. If you become a BRFV user, this applies as your orientation and application fee.

To request a tour, please fill in our questionnaire.

A tour for individuals or groups from out of the Western North Carolina region who might be interested in starting their own incubator facility is $75 per hour.

IN THE MEDIA: BLUE RIDGE FOOD VENTURES

-Asheville Citizen-Times: Feature article on Blue Ridge Food Ventures client Imladris Farm. Read it HERE.

- Hendersonville Times-News: "Local produce throughout the winter? CSA delivers." Read the feature story about Winter Sun Farms HERE.

- Asheville Citizen-Times: Feature article on Blue Ridge Food Ventures Executive Director Mary Lou Surgi. Find out about the world of experience she brings to her job HERE.

- 880AM The Revolution: Interview with Blue Ridge Food Ventures Executive Director Mary Lou Surgi on the popular program, "Local Edge Radio with Blake & Lesley." Listen to the podcast HERE.

- NY Times: "How to Choose a Small-Business Incubator" highlights Blue Ridge Food Ventures and includes a photo of the founders of Buchi, a company that got its start at BRFV. Read the article HERE.

- Our State Magazine: "Making it to Market" profiles Blue Ridge Food Ventures and includes interviews with several current BRFV clients. Read the article HERE.

- Smoky Mountain Living: A profile on BRFV "graduate" Lusty Monk Mustard includes a sidebar on Blue Ridge Food Ventures and other BRFV clients. Read the article HERE.

- Winston-Salem Journal: "Crunch Time for Bamboo Pickles": A look at a Blue Ridge Food Ventures favorite, Bamboo Pickles. Read the article HERE.

- Huffington Post: "The Peace List (10 Gift Ideas for the Peaceful)" recommends the World's Best Carrot Cake as a holiday gift. Read the post HERE.

- Cooking Light: Made at Blue Ridge Food Ventures, Bamboo Ladies bamboo pickles win a national taste test award in the artisanal foods category. Read more HERE.

- Asheville Radio Group: Interview with Blue Ridge Food Ventures Executive Director
Mary Lou Surgi, broadcast on Mix 96.5 WOXL, 98.1 The River, 105.9 The Mountain and 1310 WISE. Listen to the podcast HERE..

- News Radio 570 WWNC: "Take A Stand with Matt Mittan" features Blue Ridge Food Ventures, how to start a food business, the new Natural Products Manufacturing Facility, and more. Listen to the podcast HERE.