Resources
North Carolina Specialty Foods Association
Works closely with NC Department of Agriculture. BRFV is a member.
www.ncspecialtyfoods.org
National Specialty Foods Association
www.specialtyfood.com
This is the website of the National Specialty Foods Association and a great place to keep up with trends in this industry. They offer a free daily email newsletter to keep up with trends in the Specialty Food World. Click on their website to subscribe.
US Organic Standards
www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm
Everything you want to know about the organic standards, including what you can put on your labels.
Organic Ingredients
www.tradinorganic.com
Good Introductory Books & Websites
“From Kitchen to Market: Selling Your Gourmet Food Specialty” by Stephen F. Hall
Mr. Hall also hosts a website where you can ask questions and communicate with others new to the gourmet foods business: www.specialtyfoodresource.com. Visit the site often, subscribe to their newsletter and join in conversation on their forum. It's a great place for start-ups.
“Bringing Your Specialty Food Product to Market”, by Tedde McMillan, the founder of Oregon Chai. Very basic introduction to starting a food business. Available at BRFV.
Local Foods Promotion
The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP)
Sources for Packaging Materials
Food Service Packaging Sources—plastics and papers
Bakery boxes, bags, etc…
www.bagbarn.com
www.foodservicedirect.com
www.instawares.com
www.brenmarco.com (has some eco-friendly containers)
www.psaessentials.com
www.hubert.com
www.nashvillewraps.com
www.papermart.com
www.pi-pkg.com or call Jennifer Giebel 800-722-8550
www.usbox.com
www.carolinaretail.com
http://www.novacartusa.com/ very nice paper baking cups
www.bagsandbowsonline.com
Great selection of bags and located in Banner Elk:
www.signaturebag.com
Gift Basket Wrap items
www.allsortswrap.com
www.aspecialtybox.com call Lori Craig at 888-408-7269
Heavy-duty corrugated boxes & displays, call Bruce Chenault 828-584-1511
www.packagingcorp.com
Glass & Plastics/Bottles/Containers
www.containerandpackaging.com
www.freundcontainer.com
www.specialtybottle.com
www.richardsmemphis.com (Cindy Vinson—901-360-1121)
www.packagingprice.com
www.newhigh.com/fancyfood/ (high end glass bottles, unusual selection)
www.veripak.com
www.sks-bottle.com (smaller quantities)
www.netbottle.com (smaller quantities)
www.hiplas.com (do the containers for HeadStart Gourmet)
www.berryplastics.com (did the containers for smoked trout dip)
www.kingplastics.com (did the containers for Aussie Dip) 800-281-1773
Arcadia Plastic Jugs for Cider, Arden, NC
828-843-5560
Biodegradeable Packaging Containers
www.biodegradablestore.com
www.ecoproducts.com
http://www.pwpindustries.com/j/i/21970/SustainablePackaging.html
Fruit & Vegetable Bags & Boxes
Anderson Packaging in Hendersonville
www.andersonpkg.com
Cellophane & Polypropylene Bags
www.lomarbag.com
Lo-Mar Bag Co. Inc. Try Weldon Smith at 800-698-3750 in Chattanooga
Shrink Wrap Products
www.shrinkbagsandmore.com
http://www.globalpak.net/ (carry colorful neck shrink bands)
Vacuum Sealer Bags
www.ultravacsolutions.com
www.pacnseal.com
www.alinebags.com
www.bcuplastics.com
Wooden Gift Crates
www.crateideas.com
Professional Labels Design & Printing
BayTech Label in Asheville, 828-296-8900
Jane Ware of jbGraphics is an Asheville-based graphic designer that does lots of work for local organizations and events like ASAP, LEAF, OrganicFest etc... 828-299-1402
Brian Hoge at Precision Label, Inc in Hendersonville will do small runs of labels that can be customized with the thermal printer we have at BRFV. He also has a graphics artist on staff that will help with your design. 828-692-7717 plibrian@mchsi.com
Paula Bishop is working with BRFV clients to design labels and logos. Check out her work at http://www.BishopDesign.net
tel: 828-253-4503 Asheville, NC
cell: 828-337-5739
Logo Label Printing in Raleigh has done some labels for BRFV producers and uses an Indigo printer to do short runs. Best if you already have your label print-ready, but they will provide some help with design. Call Tim Oates at (919) 782-9966 www.logolabelprinting.com
www.Worldlabel.com is a good internet resource for all sorts of blank labels for your printer
Marketing, Packaging and Branding Consultants
Mary Barkley in Charlotte 704-541-6464
Code Stamp –thoughts from Fire on the Mountain
"We bought the Curvex coder made for printing on curved surfaces from JMD Manufacturing in Framingham, MA. www.jmdmfg.com/ShapexLineOfProducts.htm, the only source I could find. Expensive, but effective for our use. Great ink, fast drying and water resistant. At the time I could not find any other suitable options. Recently I noticed with a glance some stampers in Staples that may be a lost cost alternative but I didn't really analyze as we are set with what we have. You may recall the basic stamper and pad that we initially tried and it was just sloppy and unsuitable for professional use. It certainly makes a difference in appearance of the finished product. The Staples version may be suitable for flat surfaces."
Chocolate Sources
Ambassador Chocolate 800-272-8694
Culinary Masters has Shokinag 828-261-5261
Fabulous selection at www.chocosphere.com
And, www.cksouth.com/home.asp (good possibility, lots of coating chocolates) In Atlanta, take a trip down to check them out
Plastic Food Containers
www.creativefoodpackaging.com/
www.southpack.com/clam.htm
www.hlp-pack.com/
www.buckell.com
www.blisterpackaging.com/
www.plasticpack.com/index.htm
www.ecoproducts.com
www.fpi.org/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/142
www.pactiv.com/
www.plasticcontainercity.com
www.allpackaging.com
www.sugarcraft.com
Other Food Business Incubators & Resources
www.umass.edu/nefe
www.fccdc.org/foodprocess/foodprocess.html
www.uark.edu/ua/foodpro/
foodsafety.psu.edu/processor/resources.htm
www.saabra.org/pages/BRKI.html
www.hceda.org/agriculture/resource_center.html
fpc.unl.edu/
www.acenetworks.org/foodventures/index.php?page=44
www.nysaes.cornell.edu/necfe/index.html
ccc.shoalsec.com/
www.redwoods.edu/arcata/foodworks/index.html
www.foodsofhawaii.com/memberpages/hamakua_incubator.html
www.bonnerbusinesscenter.com/
www.fccdc.org/foodprocess/foodprocess.html
www.laplaza.org/b_e/tcedc/foodcenter.html
www.hudsonvalleyfoodworks.com
oregonstate.edu/dept/foodsci/fic.htm
www.edcnv.org/programs/northern_enterprises/food_venture/
www.fondymarket.org/
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"This kitchen facility’s potential is endless…BRFV has enabled me to open a production company with very little out-of-pocket cost."
Kim Austin
Carolina Culinary
Mary Lou Surgi, Executive Director
Blue Ridge Food Ventures
1461 Sand Hill Road
Candler, NC 28715
Located at the Small Business Center on the A-B Tech Enka Campus.
Get Directions
ph. 828-665-9464
fx. 828-665-9471
Email Mary Lou
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