Regional Food Incubator and Academy

Welcome to the Regional Food Business Incubator!

From small farms and food entrepreneurs to helping retailers buy local, this program supports every chain in the field-to-fork pipeline. With hands-on education, personalized business guidance, technical assistance, and the cultivation of a buyer-producer network, we aim to reduce barriers to the value-added food industry and help guide products to market.

Spanning St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis counties in norther NY, the Regional Food Business Incubator has three main initiatives: provide educational workshop series for farmers and food entrepreneurs, build connections with retailers to improve marketing channels for agricultural businesses, and increase local purchasing options and visibility at the retail level.

Ag and Food Producers Academy

This is a food business incubator program for farmers and food entrepreneurs across a tri-county region, St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis Counties, January-March 2026 and January-March 2027.

• 7 themes topics with multi-session online webinars
• In-person field trips at the close of webinars
• Local Food Fair in 2027 for entrepreneurs to meet new customers

Each year, a variety of multi-session workshop series are offered, each centered around a certain theme and covering essential topics within that scope. To increase accessibility and reach, these themes are held as webinars, taught January through March- the off season for most local producers. Assisted by access to the Harvest Kitchen at CCE St. Lawrence, a shared-use commercial kitchen, this program is open to all farmers and food producers in northern New York and aims to launch local products into the marketplace.

Production Themes

• Food Production with a 20C License - Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • Considerations for Commercial Kitchens: Rent, Retrofit, Build - January 7, 2025
  • Understanding Food Product Classifications, Process Authorities and Recipe Approval - January 14, 2025
  • Determining Cost of Production and Scaling - January 21, 2025
  • Inspections, Recordkeeping and Food Safety - January 28, 2025
  • In-person Field Trip, Tours to Value-Added Kitchens - January 31, 2025

• Ready-to-Eat Food Businesses - Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • Types of Businesses & Startup Requirements - February 4, 2025
  • Food Processing vs. Food Service Establishment - February 11, 2025
  • DOH Licensing and Inspections, Food Safety, and Facility Requirements - February 18, 2025
  • ‘Restaurant’ Management, Inventory Management, Pricing Menus - February 25, 2025
  • In-person Field Trip to restaurant and mobile businesses - February 28, 2025

• Growing a Home-Based Food Business - Wednesdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • Home based Success Stories - March 4, 2025
  • Permits and Regulations - March 11, 2025
  • Labels and Recordkeeping - March 18, 2025
  • Markets and Distribution - March 25, 2025
  • In-person Field Trip to home-based businesses

Non- Production Themes

• Developing Your Brand - Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • Market Research and Differentiation - January 8, 2025
  • Effective Branding - January 15, 2025
  • Marketing Strategy - January 22, 2025

• Building a Business Basics - Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • Business Considerations (Entity Structures, DBAs, Risk Management, Other) - January 29, 2025
  • Finances, Accounting, and Recordkeeping - February 5, 2025
  • Developing a Business Plan - February 12, 2025

• Active Online Presence - Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • SEO, Websites, & Social Media - February 19, 2025
  • Creating Content that Converts - February 26, 2025

• Optimizing Your Operation - Thursdays, 6 - 7:30 pm
  • Upcycle foods - March 12, 2025
  • Inventory Management/Forecasting Sales - March 19, 2025
  • Composting Waste - March 26, 2025

Participants that participate fully in one production theme and two non-production theme may have the opportunity to improve business operations through technical services provided by a project partner of their choice. Valued up to $3,000 per business, potential services include logo design, brand management, website development, product labels, photography, and videography. This is a possibility for a limited number of businesses for 2026 and 2027. Find eligibility criteria and the Frequently Asked Questions page here.

• Technical Service Partners:
  • Lionheart Graphics
  • FMN Creative
  • McCluskey Photography
  • Railroad Productions

  The Regional Food Business Incubator culminates in 2027 with a Local Food Fair featuring program attendees and their products

• Support Provided:

• In-person field trips for hands-on learning experiences at the end of each theme, open to all participants.

• Personalized business guidance and consultations from team members

Market Expansion and Visibility

• Establish relationships with area retailers that improve the marketing channels for agricultural businesses
• Matchmaking for producers to increase local purchasing in stores, restaurants and institutions
• Increase visibility at the retail and institutional level
• Free consultations and custom signage to retailers
  • Cultivate relationships between agricultural businesses and local retailers, expanding local purchasing opportunities for all and increasing local product visibility at the institutional level.
  • If you are looking to get more involved with buy local initiatives, reach out to be entered into our buyer-producer network and we will help provide ‘matchmaking’ services, getting you connected to the grower that’s right for your business.
  • Restaurants and retailers who participate in buy local initiatives can receive free marketing materials and custom signage to promote local purchasing options. Templates are displayed below and can be tailored to your business.

Last updated November 26, 2025