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D. J. BUSH and K. D. Hayes. Dept. of Food Science, Purdue Univ., 745 Agricultural Mall Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2009 The need to move from solely agricultural commodities to both commodities and value-added products is a key factor in sustaining Indiana agriculture. In order to help Indiana’s Food Processing-Related Industry, Purdue University Food Science Extension is building a program that will be a resource and knowledge base for entrepreneurs. Understanding the needs of entrepreneurs will better allow Purdue University Food Science Extension to determine what services and types of information will be useful and necessary for building this program. To identify the needs of entrepreneurs in Food Processing-Related Industries within the state of Indiana. Health Department Personnel from 86 counties in Indiana were surveyed. Questions asked on the survey covered three subject areas: 1) resources that Purdue Food Science might provide, 2) the number and type of inquiries made by entrepreneurs to the Health Department, 3) entrepreneurs’ interests, planning and type of product they were planning to market, and level of commitment they had made to their project. As suggested by the Indiana State Health Department Supervisor, these questions were separated into wholesale and retail categories. Wholesale product sales are those which more closely align with what the Purdue Food Science extension entrepreneur program is addressing. These types of inquiries mainly go to the state headquarters and not the local county offices who receive more retail inquiries. Inquiries to county health department personnel are coming from clients such as restaurant owners or current food business owners who are farther along in the process or are more serious. Topics of interest for wholesale inquiries are new business start-up, food regulations, process development and business permits. These survey data will direct Purdue University Food Science in developing an Entrepreneur Assistance Program. Resources provided by this program to Indiana Food Processing-Related Industries will ultimately help to sustain Indiana agriculture with value-added food products.
Session 33C, Extension & Outreach: General
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