State Resources, Associations and Agencies
This list is not all-inclusive nor meant to serve as an endorsement.
Where only state departments of agriculture are listed, be prepared to receive limited assistance. Most such departments are devoted to commodity marketing, not retail-packaged, high value food products. In those instances where no state association is listed, you may wish to consult a listing of state departments of agriculture.
State Departments of Commerce
Every state has a department of commerce and business development, usually located at the state capital. Its sole purpose is to promote and develop business within the state and offer new businesses information on state regulations and any legal requirements that apply.
States with Specialty Food Marketing Associations
The book includes listings of glass manufacturers, box manufacturers, basket companies, packaging and bag businesses, printers, label designers, co-packers, truckers, food technologists, public relations agencies, etc.
ALABAMA
Alabama Specialty Food Association
10781 State Highway 27
Chancellor, AL 36316
334-684-1404; Fax: 334-460-9993
ARIZONA
FLAVORS OF ARIZONA
Ken Barry, President
602-420-9337
email: KBarry@desertrosefoods.biz; Website: flavorsofarizona.org
Flavors of Arizona is an organization composed of Arizona food manufacturers. The Sonoran Desert is an incubator for creative food products ranging from Sonoran grown pecans and prickly pear cactus products.
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Agricultural Development and Resource Preservation
765 Asylum Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
860-713-256938; Fax: 860-677-8418
email: ctfood@ctfood.org
Connecticut Specialty Food Association
195 Farmington Avenue, Suite 200
Farmington, CT 06032
860-677-8097; Fax: 860-677-8418
This association has published a directory of resources essential to food producers. The book includes listings of glass manufacturers, box manufacturers, basket companies, packaging and bag businesses, printers, label designers, co-packers, truckers, food technologists, public relations agencies, etc. This association has created Connecticut Food Trail, an online, direct access venue showcase Connecticutt specialty food brands.
IDAHO
Marketing Idaho Food and Agriculture
Idaho State Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 790
Boise, ID 83701-0790
208-332-8530; Fax: 208-334-2879
Website: agri.state.id.us
Ask for a copy of their publication: “Starting a Specialty Food Business.”
Idaho Specialty Food Association
P. O. Box 5231
Boise, ID 83705
208-433-0603; Website: agri.stae.id.us
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
P.O. Box 3334
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3334
225-922-1277; Fax: 225-922-1289
email: info@ldaf.state.la.us; Website: ldaf.state.us
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture
Division of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
617-626-1700; Fax: 617-626-1850
Website: mass.gov/agr
The department provides an array of marketing support services to both value-added specialty food and agricultural producers. Options for participation in Massachusetts pavilions at trade shows, special events, seminars, and referrals are provided. Ask for a copy of “The Massachusetts Food Processors Resource Manual.”
Massachusetts Specialty Food Association (MSFA)
P.O. Box 34
Groton, MA 01450
800-813-5862; 508-457-5346
Website: msfa.net
The association supports and strengthens specialty producers to enhance the Massachusetts economy and promotes the interest of food producers and processors in the state. It serves as an umbrella organization to assist its members in obtaining financial, scientific, management, marketing and technical assistance. The association has access to consultation in many fields, including research and development, business and financial management, marketing, and technical and scientific areas.
DARTMOUTH (MA) GRANGE SHARED-USE KITCHEN
A state certified commercial state-of-the-art kitchen with all the amenities that a specialty food producer, grower or caterer might need, including: A 40-gallon tilting skillet; a 40-gallon steam-jacketed kettle; 2 convection ovens; a 6-burner range with two conventional ovens; a 20 and 40-quart stand mixer with grinding attachment; an automated filling machine; a 4-quart commercial food processor; an industrial stick blender; digital scales; assorted small wares.
1133 Fisher Road
Dartmouth, MA 02747
508-636-1900
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155-2538
800-967-2474 or 651-201-6000
NEBRASKA
The Food Processing Center University of Nebraska
Contact: Jill D. Gifford
Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program Manager
143 Filley Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0928
402-472-2819; Fax 402-472-1693
email: jgifford1@unl.edu; Website: fpc.unl.edu
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico Department of Agriculture
MSC 3189, Corner of Gregg and Espina, Box 30005
Las Cruces, NM 88003-88005
505-646-3007; Fax: 505-646-8120
email:nmagsec@nmda.nmsu.edu; Website: nmdaweb.nmsu.edu
A producer-consumer service and regulatory department under the New Mexico State University (NMSU) Board of Regents. Its Marketing and Development Division assists in the development of new markets and expansion of existing markets, both domestic and international, for farm products and livestock produced or processed in the state. It also assists commodity commissions in organizing and implementing commodity promotions.
New Mexico Specialty Foods Association
P. O. Box 30972
Albuquerque, NM 87190
505-332-2000 Website: nmfoods.com
NEW YORK
New York State Food Venture Center
Cornell University/NYSAES
Food Research Lab
630 West North Street
Geneva. NY 14456
315-787-2273
email:necfe@nyaes.cornell.edu; Website: nysaes.cornell.edu
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
2 West Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-7125; Website: agr.state.nc.us
North Carolina Specialty Foods Association
P. O. Box 10426
Raleigh, NC 27605
919-83-5544
Web site: ncspecialtyfoods.org
Northwest Specialty Food Processors Association
8338 NE Alderwood Street, Suite 160
Portland, OR 97220
503-327-22007; Fax: 503-327-2201
email:mwfpa@nwfpa.org
OHIO
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Ohio Proud 8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
800-467-7683; Fax: 614-728-6201
email: agri@agri.ohio.gov
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Specialty Food Products Association
1301 Gervais Street, Suite 710
Columbia, SC 29201-3326
866-340-7105801-771-0131 Fax: 803-771-7660
TENNESSEE
Appalacian Spring Coopeerative
P.O. Box 555
Sneedville, TN 37869
423-733-2095
TEXAS
Texas Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 12847
Austin, TX 78711
800-835-5832 512-463-7476; Fax: 888-835-5832
This agency has access to a large database called Texas Agriculture Marketing Exchange (TAME).
VERMONT
Vermont Agency of Agriculture
116 State Street Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
802-828-2416; Fax: 802-828-2361
Website: agr-webmaster@state.vt.us
Ask for a copy of the very thorough Vermont Specialty Food Resource Directory.
Vermont Cheese Council
2088 East Main Street
Richmond, VT 05477
866-261-8595
Vermont Specialty Food Association
116 State Street, Drawer 20
Montpelier, VT 05620-2901
802-828-3828; Fax: 802-773-2242
Vermont Food Venture Center (VFVC)
Contact: Brian Norder, Director
1126 Main Street
Fairfax, VT 05454
802-849-2000; Fax: 802-849-2158
This organization if part of the state effort of the Economic Development Council of Northern Vermont.
VIRGINIA
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-2373; Fax: 804-371-6097
Website: vdacs.virginia.gov
Virginia Food and Beverage Association
P. O. Box 781
Goochland, VA 23063
804-556-9100; Fax: 804-556-9119
email: info@vfaba.org
WASHINGTON
Washington Specialty Foods Association
1200 NW Naito Parkway #290
Portland, WA 97209
503-241-1487; Fax: 508-274-4019
Website: nwspecialtyfoods.org
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Cheese and Specialty Food Merchants Association
111 South Hamilton
Madison, WI 53703
608-255-0373; Fax: 608-255-6600
email:info@wispecialcheese.org; Website: wispecialcheese.org
Wisconsin Specialty Cheese Institute
P.O. Box 15
Delevan, WI 53115
262-740-2180; Fax: 262740-2175
Website: wisspecialcheese.org
Wisconsin Program Wisconsin Department of Trade and Consumer Protection
Division of Marketing
P.O. Box 8911
Madison, WI 53708-8911
608-224-5115; Fax: 608-224-5111
email:info@savorwisconsin.com; Website: datcp.state.wi.us
Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 305
Madison, WI 53717-1950
608-828-4550 Fax: 608-828-4551
email: office@wscheesemakersassn.com
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Development Office
Moses Zegeer
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Charleston, WV 25901
800-982-3386; 304-558-2234; Fax: 304-558-0449
INTERNATIONAL
Canadian Association of Specialty Foods
21 Belvia Road
Etobicoke, Ontario M8W-3RZ Canada
905-761-9951; FAx: 905-761-9952 Website: cfta.ca
Revised 8/5/2009
