Navigating NC Food Regulations for Value-Added Foods

— Written by Kate Nicholas | March 20, 2025 (Updated: May 1, 2025, 11:11 a.m.)

Navigating NC Food Regulations for Value-Added Foods

A 1-day food safety education and networking event

April 16, 2025 - Union County, Monroe, NC

May 21, 2025 - Guilford County, Greensboro, NC

NC Extension agents, farmers market managers, and shared kitchen staff are often the first point of contact for food entrepreneurs navigating food safety requirements. This one-day hands-on workshop will equip you with practical skills, regulatory insights, and essential tools to confidently assist value-added food producers in your community. Participate in four expert-led sessions from NC State Extension food safety specialists and lunchtime discussions featuring the NC Department of Agriculture.

5.21.2025 Navigating NC Food Regulations for Value-Added Foods

Registration Open Now!

April 16, 2025 - Union County - Monroe, NC

May 21, 2025 - Guilford County - Greensboro, NC

NC Extension Registration on XLMS

General Registration on Eventbrite

Event Highlights

Keynote Speaker

NC State's EI4F Program

We welcome the Entrepreneur Initiative for Food Program, based out of Raleigh, NC in the Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Science Department.

They will share information about Process Authority letters and other resources their program provides to help ensure our North Carolinian food manufacturers are making safe products.

NC A&T's Urban and Community Food Complex

NC A&T’s Dr. Hao Feng joins us to share exciting updates on the Urban and Community Food Complex. This new resource for NC will consist of a sensory lab for conducting consumer research, commercial kitchen, food processing lab, creamery operation and a BSL2 laboratory.

Lunch with Your Local Regulator

'What to Expect When Inspected'

What are Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and why is accurate implementation of their principles important for a successful inspection?

NC State Extension & the Food Program at the NC Department of Agriculture will present inspection insights and host a Q&A session.

Food Safety Sessions

Learn more about practical food safety for value-added food manufacturers during our interactive learning sessions:

Assess high-risk vs. low-risk foods and examine what can be made from a home kitchen
Investigate pH testing for items like home-canned pickles and water activity testing for dehydrated foods
Fine tune a food label and learn about food safety vs. food quality indicators on packaging
Prepare for a recall event

This program will be hosted 4 times in 2025. The Spring series will be hosted in north and south counties. The Fall series will be hosted in eastern and western counties.