RISON — For native farmers and hopeful meals entrepreneurs, the College of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Share Grounds program gives a possibility to begin and develop meals companies by utilizing current services at a number of county fairgrounds within the state.
Neighborhood members, native leaders and potential shoppers lately gathered to have a good time the reopening of the Cleveland County Share Grounds business kitchen in Rison.
“Having the Rison location will assist these in Central and South Arkansas have entry to a low-cost business house to provide merchandise,” mentioned David Hill, extension program affiliate for meals techniques and security for the Division of Agriculture. “This house will present business instruments and gear that they may not have entry to, or which can be price prohibitive when simply getting began.”
Hill mentioned the Rison business kitchen, positioned at 200 W. Mockingbird Lane, encompasses a business oven, kettle cooker, mixers, slicers and refrigeration and freezer capability. By the Share Grounds program, shoppers also can obtain technical assist in getting required permits, creating labels, recipe and program growth, and extra.
Members of the Cleveland County Honest Board – together with Karen Fox, John Applegate, Leanna Britton and Arnette Guyer – joined Danielle Watson, Cleveland County workers chair, and David West, Cleveland County agriculture agent, to supply a tour of the ability and reply questions concerning the Share Grounds program. Lauren Morris, affiliate director of Arkansas Neighborhood Basis, and Cleveland County Decide-elect Jimmy Cummings additionally attended the ribbon chopping ceremony, led by Roy Philips, president of the Cleveland County Honest Board.
Amanda Philyaw Perez, program director and extension specialist for meals techniques and security, mentioned the Share Grounds program gives important help for growers, meals companies and rising meals entrepreneurs in search of assets for each house and business meals product growth within the state.
“Share Grounds is vital as a result of it gives a low-cost avenue for enterprise startup,” Perez mentioned. “It is going to additionally assist these with extra produce to have a method to make use of it and never have it go to waste, with the additional advantage of constructing some cash. Residence meals companies can get help with meals security testing as properly.”
The Share Grounds program is a partnership between the College of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, the U.S. Division of Agriculture Native Meals Promotion Program, the Arkansas Neighborhood Basis, the West Basis and regional companions in Cleveland County.
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