What is a Shared Use Kitchen..

As my food ventures grow so does the need for a test kitchen, a place also, where others can build their food businesses. I have always been one that loves to share and have the gift of gab that has opened many doors for me. In the beginning of my food business so many ideas and secrets of the trade were unavailable and kept at bay. I guess a lot of other food companies kept info thinking it was part of their success. Well, i never looked at things that way. Sometimes being the new kid on the block was lonely, so i made a change to that. Every time i would go to a marketing meeting or festival i made it a point to be the first to talk with the newcomers. Networking and enjoying the ability to answer any question i could. Any questions that were not answered i made sure i got back with them and sometimes introduced them to someone who could help.Well this is what i believe, we are all gifted with a special talent or gift and a lot of times networking unlocks these talents. If you do not ask, do not shout out, how is anyone going to know what your hurdle is. Oh trust me i do listen a lot too, especially to the older folks that have so much to share. And their is nothing better than having a child taste sample your products as they never hold back, does my heart good to hear them holler, that is soooo good.
  So in my travels i have visited two different shared use kitchens. A shared use kitchen is a commercial incubator kitchen designed to foster food business entrepreneurs, create new food businesses, grow existing food businesses and provide workforce development resulting in new jobs and new economic development. The kitchen has space for rent for food processing, food packaging,or food testing. One of the best features is there are seminars on every aspect that will help you from start to finish. The kitchen facility has three distinct processing areas, seperate dry storage and walk in coolers and freezer as well as seperate wash areas.
  As i toured the other two kitchens a lot of things came to my mind that i will do differently here.
  Downscale the equipment as everyone is a little leary of large equipment and no intimidation factor is a key to success.
  Participate with each individual till they are at ease with making their products.
  Having a little store area where others may come in and buy products locally made.
  Have a farmers market out front to showcase fresh produce, support local farmers and then have the ability to take their products and make value added such as leftover strawberries to make Strawberry jam.
  Offer classes to enhance recipes and teach proper canning techniques.
  Utilize our retired individuals to not only teach but share traditional recipes.
  Work with Cooperative Extension and have everyone Serv Safe certified.
  Coordinate festivals and events to showcase products.
  Have each business certified with the Health dept. and properly licensed as a small business.
  Start up about five food trucks to serve the area and serve as a commissarie.

  And a few more wonderful ideas that i will share later, i found the building by asking and sharing with others, it will never be under my name as i have met an individual who has the resources and knowledge and it truley needs to be a community effort.
  While i was at The manufacturing makes it real tour, and i was expressing my dreams for Harnett County, a wonderful gentleman handed me his business card..the rest will be history that i will continue to blog about..until then..Remember What " Can " you do..