Are you thinking about creating a Value-Added Product (VAP) but are unsure where to start? This online, self-paced course is for you!

REGISTER HERE!

What exactly qualifies as a value-added product, and who determines its value? If you produce it, can you sell it? What factors should you consider before launching a value-added business?

Join our free, online self-paced course “Starting a Value-Added Local Food Enterprise,” designed for both new and experienced farmers looking to diversify their operations. The course covers everything from understanding what makes a product “value-added” to conducting market research, product development, branding, and managing your enterprise. Each module features expert insights, helpful resources, videos, and guided assignments to help you create a successful value-added product plan.

In this course you will learn how to:

Module 1: Introduction to Value-Added Production:  explore what is a value-added product; what the considerations are to producing a value added product; common types of processing activities; and an overview of the regulatory requirements to producing a value-added product so you know how to get started.

Module 2: Market and Product Research:  Prior to starting a new value-added enterprise, learn how to conduct a SWOT analysis; conduct market research; define your target audience; position your product in the market; and define your go-to market strategy.

Module 3: Product Development and Production:  Learn about value-added product recipe development; preparing to scale up production; where to produce your product; and production planning and timelines.  We will also review product classifications and associated additional regulatory requirements.

Module 4: Branding, Labeling, and Marketing:  Once you have developed a clear product and production plan, learn how to define your brand; appropriately label your product; build viable sales channes; develop a marketing plan; and leverage your online presence to promote your product.

Module 5: Enterprise Management: As you engage in a value-added enterprise, think about revisiting your business and financial plan for the enterprise.  This module covers business planning, assessing the potential profitability of a value-added opportunity; determining costs of production; best practices for financial record-keeping and enterprise analysis; and funding, financing, and business support resources.

At the end of each module, suggested assignments are meant to help you workshop your ideas, structure an action plan, and create goals for your value-added product. This is a self guided, asynchronous course. You can approach the modules in any order and circle back to modules as you discover new areas of research or assess different product ideas or enterprises.

This course was produced by the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project (a program of the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy) and the Massachusetts Agricultural Innovation Center with funding from the USDA Local Food Promotion Program.  New Entry Sustainable Farming Project offers a Plain Language Guide to Starting a Value-Added Food Business that provides a basic introduction to starting a value-added enterprise. The Massachusetts Agriculture Innovation Center (MAAIC) provides individual value-added support and resources.

Register for this free course here.  The course is held in an online course management platform, Canvas.  To request access to the course, please complete the registration form and a link to sign in to the course will be sent to you.