Plan your fruit-related food business this summer
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EmailFresh fruit will likely be hard to find this growing season. If you’ve been kicking around a new food concept, the Michigan State University Product Center can help you develop the idea.
Michigan fruit growers will not be twiddling their thumbs this summer—there are too many good ideas to explore. Additionally, the consumer’s love of Michigan fruit food products will not wane though fresh fruit will likely be hard to find this growing season. There are new markets, different ways of doing business, and the daughter-in-law’s fabulous fruit salsa recipe to commercialize. The Michigan State University (MSU) Product Center can help turn dreams into reality.
There will be opportunities to research new markets of all kinds. Talk to your broker, visit farmers markets and check out consumer trends to learn where the opportunities await. Perhaps your community is beginning to talk about forming a food hub or some other local food initiative.
Have you ever thought about working with other growers to purchase inputs, pack, process or market your fruit? Any or all of these functions can be done collaboratively through a variety of business structures. This year might the right time to leverage your resources with others for greatest advantage in the marketplace.
Does the future include a food product with your name on the label? There may not be a better time to develop your concept and find how to make, market, and manage a specialty fruit food item.
The MSU Product Center helps Michigan entrepreneurs and businesses to develop and launch new product and service ideas into food, agriculture, and bioenergy markets. Through a network of field-based staff and campus experts, the MSU Product Center assists clients with confidential business counseling, specialized food science and packaging services, market research, and feasibility studies. Venture development events such as the National Value Added Conference in Traverse City held June 24-26 educate and inspire those interested in capitalizing on Michigan’s high-quality fruit industry.
A request for confidential counseling is the easy first step toward your new fruit business idea, and be made on line at the MSU Product Center’s website, or by calling 517-432-8750.
