Cooperative Extension: Food & Health

Resources for Small Food Businesses in Maine

The University of Maine’s Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition and Cooperative Extension work together to support many food-based industries in Maine. We help farmers, processors, entrepreneurs, growers, small home-based food businesses, and Maine citizens.

It is our mission to assist food businesses with food safety and quality testing, technical assistance, and education. Our services include:

• Experienced staff members, faculty, Pilot Plant facilities, a commercial scale kitchen, and our Consumer Testing Center
• Food Testing
• Education (workshops, fact sheets, videos)
• Assistance for starting small, home-based food businesses

Additional Resources

• Recipe to Market — How to Start a Specialty Food Business, Bulletin #3101: Are you interested in starting a food business in Maine? In this bulletin, UMaine food scientists who help entrepreneurs with testing and development answer the most commonly asked questions about starting a small food business in Maine.
• UMaine Food Science & Human Nutrition
• Dr. Matthew Highlands Pilot Plant
• Small Business Education | Online Small Business Library
• New England Small Food Processors Project
• More…

“We have been so appreciative of all that Beth has been able to contribute to our business, new product exploration, testing, analysis, scaling up for production and general assistance and ideas. I have found Beth to be enthusiastically supportive and always ready to respond to my questions and concerns.”

– C. Waite Maclin, Owner of Pastor Chuck Orchards, Portland, ME

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us:

Dr. Beth Calder, Extension Food Science Specialist
Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition
Hitchner Hall Orono, ME 04469-5735
Phone: 207.581.2791, 207.581.2791 or 1.800.287.7170 (in Maine)
FAX: 207.581.1636
E-mail: beth.calder@maine.edu

Dr. Alfred Bushway, Professor
Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition
109 Hitchner Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5735
Phone: 207.581.1629, 207.581.1629
FAX: 207.581.1636
E-mail: bushway@maine.edu

Dr. Jason Bolton, Assistant Extension Professor for Food Safety
307 Maine Avenue
Bangor ME 04401-4331
Phone: 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485 (in Maine)
FAX: 207.942.7537
E-mail: jason.bolton@maine.edu

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Image Description: Beth Calder in Food Science Lab , Hitchner Hall

Image Description: C. Waite Maclin, Owner of Pastor Chuck Orchards, Portland, ME