Resources for Small Food Businesses in Maine - Assistance for Starting Small, Home-Based Food Businesses
Are you interested in starting a food business in Maine? We can help!
Begin with Bulletin #3101, Recipe to Market – How to Start a Specialty Food Business in Maine.
Food Licenses and Maine Regulatory Information
If you are interested in obtaining your food processors license, there are 3 common food licenses offered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Quality Assurance & Regulations:
- Commercial (not shelf-stable foods)
- Home-Food Processor (shelf-stable foods, baked goods, without dairy-based frostings and fillings)
- Mobile Food Vendor (farmers markets)
Application for food licenses.
If you have regulatory food questions about these licenses or would like to talk to an inspector about a pre-inspection, please visit the Maine Department of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Resources for contact information.
Send your food product in for testing
Dr. Al Bushway is our food processing authority and offers testing at his laboratory for Maine food producers at a minimal fee of $10/sample. For more information, please visit Food Science & Human Nutrition.
Other Resources at UMaine
You may be interested in visiting the University of Maine Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition for more information regarding their state-of-the-art food pilot plant or other food technology services.
Funding
Could funding help you towards commercializing your food product?
Please check out the Maine Technology Institute’s Grants, as they may provide the funding you need to move forward.
Contact
If you have any questions on how UMaine can assist you with your food business, please contact Beth Calder, Extension Food Science Specialist by e-mail at beth.calder@maine.edu or by phone at 207-581-2791.