Food & Ag Development Centers
The Montana Food and Agricultural Development Center (FADC) Network helps Montanans innovate and grow businesses that produce and commercialize food, agricultural and renewable energy products and processes. The FADCs support local businesses to create wealth and jobs for our communities, farms, and ranches while expanding Montana’s value-added agriculture industry. The Centers - located throughout Montana - operate as a statewide network serving community-based businesses, agricultural producers, and food entrepreneurs.
The Network supports economic development by ensuring that more of the state's food, agricultural, and energy dollars circulate in Montana. They provide training, coaching, and technical assistance including but not limited to:
- Business planning and development
- Market research
- Business networking – statewide, nationally, and internationally
- Product development, testing, and analysis
- Access to financing
- Grant eligibility and application support
- Regulatory compliance training
- Food safety training
- Farm to School Program support
- Cooperative development
- Education on industry dynamics and technologies
- Growth Through Agriculture Program support
Agriculture Development Council Quarterly Meeting and GTA App Review
The meeting will be held on February 13-15, 2024 at the Montana Department of Agriculture, 302 N. Roberts St., Helena, Montana.
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Abundant Montana is a connection to the land, to our neighbors, and to those committed to using locally-grown food in their businesses. How our food is produced and the distance it travels determines the prosperity of our communities and the health of our landscapes.
Montana Resources
- NCAT - National Center for Appropriate Technology - Sustainable Agriculture Emphasis
- Montana Department of Agriculture: Growth Through Agriculture Grant & Loan Program
- Montana Department of Livestock: Meat and Poultry Inspection Bureau, 406-444-5202; Milk and Egg Bureau, 406-444-9761
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services: Montana Processed Food Manufacturers Statutes; Food and Consumer Safety Section, 406-444-2408
Business Resources
- Agricultural Marketing Resource Center: a national information resource for value-added agriculture
- Idaho Department of Agriculture: Starting a Specialty Foods Business
- Iowa State University: Ag Decision Maker
- Food Industry Market Maker: A national partnership of land grant institutions and state departments of agriculture
Food Regulation and Entrepreneurship Resources
- The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (AAMP): Assistance for very small to mid-sized meat processors. The network offers free webinars on small-scale meat and poultry processing issues, providing online and in-person resources and information.
- Help for small meat plants. USDA has a Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) small meat plant help desk designed to be a one-stop shop for plant owners and operators seeking information and guidance. Call 1-877-374-7435 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, or email at infosource@fsis.usda.gov
- For educational resources and links about meat processing visit American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP)
- Washington State Department of Agriculture - Small Farm and Direct Marketing Handbook: Regulations and Strategies for Farm Businesses in Washington State
- Penn State University Food Science Program: Information for food entrepreneurs and consumers
- The American Institute of Baking: Correspondence courses on food facilities and sanitation
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