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 Appendix M: Sources of Export Assistance, for a listing of state departments of agriculture. Please see the web site.specialtyfoodresource.com for updates.
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.
FLAVORS OF ARIZONA
Email us at membership@flavorsofarizona.org Web site: flavorsofarizona.org
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
e-mail: ctfood@ctfood.org
Connecticut Specialty Food Association
195 Farmington Avenue, Suite 200
Farmington, CT 06032
Phone: 860-677-8097; Fax: 860-677-8418
e-mail: info@ctfood.org
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.
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
Web site: agri.state.id.us
Ask for a copy of their publication: “Starting a Specialty Food Business.”
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
P.O. Box 3334 Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3334
225-922-1277; Fax: 225-922-1289
e-mail: info@ldaf.state.la.us Web site: 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
Web site: 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
Web site: 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
e-mail: becky@dartmouthgrange.org Web site:dartmouthgrange.org
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155-2538
800-967-2474 or 651-201-6000
e-mail: info@state.mn.us Web site: mda.state.mn.us
NEBRASKA
The Food Processing CenterUniversity of Nebraska
Jill D. Gifford
Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program Manager
143 Filley Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0928
402-472-2819; Fax 402-472-1693
e-mail: jgifford1@unl.edu Web site: 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
e-mail:nmagsec@nmda.nmsu.edu Web site: 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 YORK
New York State Food Venture Center
Cornell University/NYSAES
Food Research Lab
630 West North Street
Geneva. NY 14456
315-787-2273
e-mail:necfe@nyaes.cornell.edu Web site: nysaes.cornell.edu
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
2 West Edenton Street Raleigh, NC 27601
919-733-7125 Web site: 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 Foods Association and Agri-Business Council of Oregon
1200 NW Naito Parkway #290
Portland, OR 97209
503-241-1487; Fax: 503-274-4019
e-mail:info@nwspecialtyfoods.org Web site: nwspecialtyfoods.org or aglink.org
OHIO
Ohio Department of Agriculture
Ohio Proud 8995 East Main Street
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
800-467-7683; Fax: 614-728-6201
e-mail: 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
e-mail: mridge@sc.gov Web site: myscgov.com
TENNESSEE
Appalacian Spring Coopeerative
PO 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
e-mail: SDUNN@AGR.STATE.TX.US Web site: agr.state.tx.us
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
Web site: 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
e-mail: info@vtcheese.com Web site: vtcheese.com
Vermont Specialty Food Association
135 North Main Street, Suite 5
Rutland, VT 05701-3238
802-747-0365 Fax: 802-773-2242
e-mail: info@vermontspecialtyfoods.org Web site: vermontspecialtyfoods.com
VIRGINIA
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-2373; Fax: 804-371-6097
e-mail:webmaster,vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov Web site: vdacs.virginia.gov
Virginia Food and Beverage Association
P. O. Bos 781
Goochland, VA 23063
804-556-9100; Fax: 804-556-9119 e-mail: info@vfaba.org
WASHINGTON
Washington Specialty Foods Association
1200 NW Naito Parkway #290
Portland, WA 97209
503-241-1487; Fax: 508-274-4019 Web site: 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
Web site: 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
e-mail:info@savorwisconsin.com Web site: datcp.state.wi.us
Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 305
Madison, WI 53717-1950
608-828-4550 Fax: 608-828-4551
e-mail: office@wscheesemakersassn.com
