Food System Resources
The food system is a diverse place with many different types of businesses across food production, harvesting, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, packaging, distribution, marketing, wholesale, retail, disposal, recycling, and more. This page highlights resources and services specifically intended to serve particular types of food businesses.
Below you will find food-specific resources and services for the following types of businesses:
- Urban Agriculture
- Home Bakeries, Cottage Food, and Food Processing
- Mobile Food Businesses
- Restaurants
- Grocery Stores
- Food Waste Businesses
The resources on this page cover a wide variety of business-related topics, including business planning and marketing, food safety, regulatory compliance, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, funding, land access, networking and mentorship, business incubation, and funding opportunities.
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Checklist
- Explore resources for specific types of food businesses
- Identify resources that may be helpful for your business
View All Steps
Food Business Types
Urban Agriculture
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Agricultural Expertise
- OSU Extension - Franklin County (Public University) - Offers a wide range of resources for businesses including food safety, farm management, and economic development tools. Their areas of expertise include crop, vegetable, and livestock production. Also offers no-cost farm advising through the Franklin County Food Business Portal.
- OSU Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) (Public University) - Ohio State research center focused on a wide range of agricultural issues, including recycling food waste
- USDA Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) - Organic Certification (Federal Government) - Overview of requirements for organic certification
- USDA Local & Regional Food Sector - Aggregation, Processing, and Distributing (Federal Government) - Information and resources for aggregating, processing, and distributing local food, including farm to institution and meat and poultry
Business Planning & Marketing
- AgPlan (Public University) - Customized no-cost business planning assistance for rural agricultural businesses
- FamilyFarmed - On-Farm Food Safety Project (OFFS) (Nonprofit) - Technical assistance for small and medium fruit and vegetable growers in developing an on-farm food safety program
- Farm Answers (Public University) - Library of resources for farms, including business management, marketing, employment, production, land use, taxes, and transfer of ownership
- Farm Commons (Nonprofit) - Works directly with farmers to help them meet their goals by offering a range of free resources on legal issues, including business structure, land, food safety, and sales and contracts. Also offers customized audits, risk analysis, and legal services for a flat fee.
- National Young Farmers Coalition - Finding Farmland Calculator (Nonprofit) - Mortgage calculator designed to teach farmers about their financing options and creditworthiness
- National Young Farmers Coalition - Finding Farmland Course (Nonprofit) - Series of free lessons to prepare farmers for financial decisions related to acquiring your first farm
- Ohio Farmers Market Network (OFMN) (Nonprofit) - Network of farmers markets that connects Ohio market managers and vendors with education, training, and certification
- Ohio Proud (State Government) - Certification, marketing, and vendor connections for Ohio-made and grown products, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and much more
- OSU - Center for Cooperatives (Public University) - Supports new and emerging cooperative businesses with learning, development, and research
- OSU Extension - Franklin County (Public University) - Offers a wide range of resources marketing resources for farmers and food producers, including for direct marketing.
- OSU Extension - Farm Office (Public University) - Collection of resources for agricultural businesses including the Ag Law Library, farm management tools, and more
- USDA Local Food Directories (Federal Government) - Free online directories that include locations, direction, operating times, and product offerings for various local food operations
- USDA Local & Regional Food Sector - Opportunities for Farmers and Ranchers (Federal Government) - Information and resources for beginning farmers and ranchers and land conservation
- USDA Local & Regional Food Sector - Tools for Consumers and Communities (Federal Government) - Information and resources for food access programs and nutrition
- USDA Local & Regional Food Sector - Urban Agriculture (Federal Government) - Information and resources on urban agriculture, including the USDA Urban Agriculture Toolkit
- USDA New Farmers (Federal Government) - Information and resources for new farmers, including women, youth, and veterans
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- City of Columbus - Civic Agriculture (Local Government) - Collection of urban agriculture resources and services including grant opportunities, regulations, and technical assistance
- Farm Commons (Nonprofit) - Works directly with farmers to help them meet their goals by offering a range of free resources on legal issues, including business structure, land, food safety, and sales and contracts. Also offers customized audits, risk analysis, and legal services for a flat fee.
- Ohio Business Gateway - Ag Laws (State Government) - Collection of environmental, agricultural, and natural resource laws and regulations
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Division of Food Safety (State Government) - Provides food safety certifications and business licensing for certain types of small food businesses
- Licenses - Information for food business on the licenses required by the state of Ohio
- Produce Safety - Information and resources on state and federal regulations around produce safety
- Starting a Food Business? - Information and resources for starting a food business, including meat and poultry, dairy, other foods, and retail establishments
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH) - Food Safety Program (State Government) - Information and resources on food safety requirements of the State of Ohio, including food safety at home, retail food safety, and food safety certifications
- Ohio EPA - Composting (State Government) - Information and resources related to composting rules and facilities
- OSU Extension - Economic Development Programs (Public University) - Information and resources related to food businesses, economic development, market analysis, and business planning
- OSU Extension - Fruit and Vegetable Safety Program (Public University) - Information, resources, and trainings on state and federal regulations around produce safety, including the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
- USDA Local & Regional Food Sector - Food Safety (Federal Government) - Information and resources for food safety
Food Waste, Environmental Sustainability, & Energy Efficiency
- Be the Change for Clean Water (Local Government) - Information and resources on protecting our water resources
- Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative (COFWI) (Local Government) - Public and private partners working to prevent, reduce, and recycle food waste in Central Ohio
- Green American - Green Business Network (Nonprofit) - Network of green entrepreneurs and businesses focused on environmental health across the economy and offers a certification for green small businesses
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank (Nonprofit) - Collects and distributes food through a network of emergency food locations in 20 Ohio counties, including Franklin County.
- Ohio EPA - Ohio Food Scraps Recovery Initiative (State Government) - Resources and tips for food donation, home composting, and information about regulatory compliance
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists businesses with food safety compliance related to marketing, consumption, and disposal of food products
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists with auditing, inspections, and trainings related to growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, distributing, or transporting food products
Funding Opportunities
Land Access
- Farm Commons (Nonprofit) - Works directly with farmers to help them meet their goals by offering a range of free resources on legal issues, including business structure, land, food safety, and sales and contracts. Also offers customized audits, risk analysis, and legal services for a flat fee.
- The Land Bank Center (Local Government) - Lease and sale of Land Bank properties within Franklin County
- Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) - Land Access Trainer Workshop (Nonprofit) - Grassroots membership organization offering a training on land access and finding land for beginning farmers
Networking & Mentorship
- Central Ohio Young Farmers Coalition (Nonprofit) - Farmer-led chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition that represents, mobilizes, and engages young farmers
- Franklin County Farm Bureau (Nonprofit) - Grassroots membership organization for farmers
- Franklin County Local Food Council - Grassroots advisory group focused on networking, education, and community engagement around the food system
- Greater Columbus Growing Coalition (Nonprofit) - Urban agriculture association that provides business support services and education to members
- Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) (Nonprofit) - Grassroots membership organization that supports sustainable and organic farmers through organic certification, education, and advocacy
- OSU Extension - Franklin County (Public University) - Offers networking and mentorship resources for farmers and food producers.
- Ohio Produce Growers & Marketers Association (OPGMA) (Nonprofit) - Membership organization offering education, political advocacy, and trainings for farms, distributors, suppliers, retailers, and marketers
Home Bakeries, Cottage Food, and Food Processing
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Business Incubation
- 1400 Food Lab (For-Profit) - Food business incubator offering rentable commercial kitchens, prep stations, cold/dry storage, and coworking space
- Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI) - Food Fort (Nonprofit) - Food business incubator offering full-service kitchens, prep stations, cold/dry storage, business coaching, training, and ongoing technical assistance
- EDGE Innovation Hub (For-Profit) - Incubation services for food technology entrepreneurs, including networking and educational events
- North Market (Nonprofit) - Public market that offers brick and mortar incubation to small food businesses
Business Planning & Marketing
- Columbus State Community College - Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts (Public University) - Training, education, certificates, and degrees in culinary arts
- Ohio Proud (State Government) - Certification, marketing, and vendor connections for Ohio-made and grown products, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and much more
- OSU Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) (Public University) - Academic research and education on food science, in collaboration with food industry partners
- OSU Extension - Economic Development Programs (Public University) - Information and resources related to food businesses, economic development, market analysis, and business planning
- OSU Extension - OSU South Centers (Public University) - Collection of resources for agricultural businesses including expertise on aquaculture, soil health, specialty crops, direct marketing, and more
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Food Waste, Environmental Sustainability, & Energy Efficiency
- Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative (COFWI) (Local Government) - Public and private partners working to prevent, reduce, and recycle food waste in Central Ohio
- The Compost Exchange (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Green American - Green Business Network (Nonprofit) - Network of green entrepreneurs and businesses focused on environmental health across the economy and offers a certification for green small businesses
- GoZERO (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Innovative Organics Recycling (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank (Nonprofit) - Collects and distributes food through a network of emergency food locations in 20 Ohio counties, including Franklin County.
- Ohio EPA - Ohio Food Scraps Recovery Initiative (State Government) - Resources and tips for food donation, home composting, and information about regulatory compliance
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists businesses with food safety compliance related to marketing, consumption, and disposal of food products
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists with auditing, inspections, and trainings related to growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, distributing, or transporting food products
- SWACO’s Food Waste Audit Tool (Local Government) - Helps businesses identify current waste practices and opportunities for improvement
Funding Opportunities
Networking & Mentorship
Mobile Food Businesses
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Business Incubation
- 1400 Food Lab (For-Profit) - Food business incubator offering rentable commercial kitchens, prep stations, cold/dry storage, and coworking space
- Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI) - Food Fort (Nonprofit) - Food business incubator offering full-service kitchens, prep stations, cold/dry storage, business coaching, training, and ongoing technical assistance
- EDGE Innovation Hub (For-Profit) - Incubation services for food technology entrepreneurs, including networking and educational events
- North Market (Nonprofit) - Public market that offers brick and mortar incubation to small food businesses
Business Planning & Marketing
- Columbus State Community College - Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts (Public University) - Training, education, certificates, and degrees in culinary arts
- Ohio Proud (State Government) - Certification, marketing, and vendor connections for Ohio-made and grown products, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and much more
- OSU Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) (Public University) - Academic research and education on food science, in collaboration with food industry partners
- OSU Extension - Economic Development Programs (Public University) - Information and resources related to food businesses, economic development, market analysis, and business planning
- OSU Extension - OSU South Centers (Public University) - Collection of resources for agricultural businesses including expertise on aquaculture, soil health, specialty crops, direct marketing, and more
- Street Food Finder (For-Profit) - Online tool for mobile food businesses to identify and reserve suitable locations
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Columbus Public Health (CPH) (Local Government) - Responsible for enforcing public health regulations within the City of Columbus and Worthington, including licensing and inspecting retail food businesses.
- Columbus Department of Public Safety - Mobile Vending License (Local Government) - Information and application for licensing for mobile food businesses and community markets
- Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) (Local Government) - Responsible for enforcing public health regulations in the entirety of Franklin County outside of the City of Columbus and Worthington, including licensing and inspecting retail food businesses.
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Division of Food Safety (State Government) - Provides food safety certifications and business licensing for certain types of small food businesses, including the Warehouse License, which is used by food truck owners for food storage
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Licenses (State Government) - Information for food businesses on the licenses required by the State of Ohio
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Starting a Food Business? (State Government) - Information and resources for starting a food business, including meat and poultry, dairy, other foods, and retail establishments
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH) - Food Safety Program (State Government) - Information and resources on food safety requirements of the State of Ohio, including food safety at home, retail food safety, and food safety certifications
- Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Liquor Control (State Government) - Issues, renews, and approves the transfer of liquor licenses for Ohio businesses and registers beer, wine, and mixed beverages for sale in Ohio
- Ohio EPA - Composting (State Government) - Information and resources related to composting rules and facilities
Food Waste, Environmental Sustainability, & Energy Efficiency
- Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative (COFWI) (Local Government) - Public and private partners working to prevent, reduce, and recycle food waste in Central Ohio
- The Compost Exchange (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Green American - Green Business Network (Nonprofit) - Network of green entrepreneurs and businesses focused on environmental health across the economy and offers a certification for green small businesses
- GoZERO (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Innovative Organics Recycling (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank (Nonprofit) - Collects and distributes food through a network of emergency food locations in 20 Ohio counties, including Franklin County.
- Ohio EPA - Ohio Food Scraps Recovery Initiative (State Government) - Resources and tips for food donation, home composting, and information about regulatory compliance
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists businesses with food safety compliance related to marketing, consumption, and disposal of food products
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists with auditing, inspections, and trainings related to growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, distributing, or transporting food products
- SWACO’s Food Waste Audit Tool (Local Government) - Helps businesses identify current waste practices and opportunities for improvement
Funding Opportunities
Networking & Mentorship
Restaurants
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Business Incubation
- 1400 Food Lab (For-Profit) - Food business incubator offering rentable commercial kitchens, prep stations, cold/dry storage, and coworking space
- Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI) - Food Fort (Nonprofit) - Food business incubator offering full-service kitchens, prep stations, cold/dry storage, business coaching, training, and ongoing technical assistance
- EDGE Innovation Hub (For-Profit) - Incubation services for food technology entrepreneurs, including networking and educational events
- North Market (Nonprofit) - Public market that offers brick and mortar incubation to small food businesses
Business Planning & Marketing
- Columbus State Community College - Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts (Public University) - Training, education, certificates, and degrees in culinary arts
- Ohio Proud (State Government) - Certification, marketing, and vendor connections for Ohio-made and grown products, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and much more
- OSU Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) (Public University) - Academic research and education on food science, in collaboration with food industry partners
- OSU Extension - Economic Development Programs (Public University) - Information and resources related to food businesses, economic development, market analysis, and business planning
- OSU Extension - OSU South Centers (Public University) - Collection of resources for agricultural businesses including expertise on aquaculture, soil health, specialty crops, direct marketing, and more
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- City of Columbus - Opening Your Restaurant(PDF, 1MB) (Local Government) - Information on opening a restaurant in the City of Columbus
- Columbus Public Health (CPH) (Local Government) - Responsible for enforcing public health regulations within the City of Columbus and Worthington, including licensing and inspecting retail food businesses.
- Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) (Local Government) - Responsible for enforcing public health regulations in the entirety of Franklin County outside of the City of Columbus and Worthington, including licensing and inspecting retail food businesses.
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Division of Food Safety (State Government) - Provides food safety certifications and business licensing for certain types of small food businesses
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Licenses (State Government) - Information for food business on the licenses required by the State of Ohio
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Starting a Food Business? (State Government) - Information and resources for starting a food business, including meat and poultry, dairy, other foods, and retail establishments
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH) - Food Safety Program (State Government) - Information and resources on food safety requirements of the State of Ohio, including food safety at home, retail food safety, and food safety certifications
- Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Liquor Control (State Government) - Issues, renews, and approves the transfer of liquor licenses for Ohio businesses and registers beer, wine, and mixed beverages for sale in Ohio
- Ohio EPA - Composting (State Government) - Information and resources related to composting rules and facilities
Food Waste, Environmental Sustainability, & Energy Efficiency
- Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative (COFWI) (Local Government) - Public and private partners working to prevent, reduce, and recycle food waste in Central Ohio
- The Compost Exchange (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- ENERGY STAR - Restaurants (Federal Government) - Tips and resources for restaurants on energy efficiency and cutting energy costs
- Green American - Green Business Network (Nonprofit) - Network of green entrepreneurs and businesses focused on environmental health across the economy and offers a certification for green small businesses
- GoZERO (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Innovative Organics Recycling (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank (Nonprofit) - Collects and distributes food through a network of emergency food locations in 20 Ohio counties, including Franklin County.
- Ohio EPA - Ohio Food Scraps Recovery Initiative (State Government) - Resources and tips for food donation, home composting, and information about regulatory compliance
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists businesses with food safety compliance related to marketing, consumption, and disposal of food products
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists with auditing, inspections, and trainings related to growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, distributing, or transporting food products
- SWACO’s Food Waste Audit Tool (Local Government) - Helps businesses identify current waste practices and opportunities for improvement
Funding Opportunities
Networking & Mentorship
- American Culinary Federation (ACF) - Columbus Chapter (Nonprofit) - Professional membership and certification organization for chefs, cooks, culinary educators, culinary apprentices, culinary students, business owners, and food services professionals in Central Ohio
- Franklin County Local Food Council - Grassroots advisory group focused on networking, education, and community engagement around the food system
- Ohio Restaurant Association (ORA) (Nonprofit) - Membership organization offering advocacy and educational opportunities for restaurant businesses
Grocery Stores
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Business Incubation
- EDGE Innovation Hub (For-Profit) - Incubation services for food technology entrepreneurs, including networking and educational events
- North Market (Nonprofit) - Public market that offers brick and mortar incubation to small food businesses
Business Planning & Marketing
- OSU Extension - Economic Development Programs (Public University) - Information and resources related to food businesses, economic development, market analysis, and business planning
- OSU Extension - OSU South Centers (Public University) - Collection of resources for agricultural businesses including expertise on aquaculture, soil health, specialty crops, direct marketing, and more
- Ohio Proud (State Government) - Certification, marketing, and vendor connections for Ohio-made and grown products, including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables, and much more
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Columbus Public Health (CPH) (Local Government) - Responsible for enforcing public health regulations within the City of Columbus and Worthington, including licensing and inspecting retail food businesses.
- Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) (Local Government) - Responsible for enforcing public health regulations in the entirety of Franklin County outside of the City of Columbus and Worthington, including licensing and inspecting retail food businesses.
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Division of Food Safety (State Government) - Provides food safety certifications and business licensing for certain types of small food businesses
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Licenses (State Government) - Information for food business on the licenses required by the State of Ohio
- Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) - Starting a Food Business? (State Government) - Information and resources for starting a food business, including meat and poultry, dairy, other foods, and retail establishments
- Ohio Department of Health (ODH) - Food Safety Program (State Government) - Information and resources on food safety requirements of the State of Ohio, including food safety at home, retail food safety, and food safety certifications
- Ohio Department of Commerce - Division of Liquor Control (State Government) - Issues, renews, and approves the transfer of liquor licenses for Ohio businesses and registers beer, wine, and mixed beverages for sale in Ohio
- Ohio EPA - Composting (State Government) - Information and resources related to composting rules and facilities
Food Waste, Environmental Sustainability, & Energy Efficiency
- Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative (COFWI) (Local Government) - Public and private partners working to prevent, reduce, and recycle food waste in Central Ohio
- The Compost Exchange (Nonprofit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- ENERGY STAR - Groceries and Convenience Stores (Federal Government) - Tips and resources for groceries and convenience stores on energy efficiency and cutting energy costs
- Green American - Green Business Network (Nonprofit) - Network of green entrepreneurs and businesses focused on environmental health across the economy and offers a certification for green small businesses
- GoZERO (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Innovative Organics Recycling (For-Profit) - Commercial composting services for the Columbus area
- Mid-Ohio Food Bank (Nonprofit) - Collects and distributes food through a network of emergency food locations in 20 Ohio counties, including Franklin County.
- Ohio EPA - Ohio Food Scraps Recovery Initiative (State Government) - Resources and tips for food donation, home composting, and information about regulatory compliance
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists businesses with food safety compliance related to marketing, consumption, and disposal of food products
- Matrix Sciences (For-Profit) - Assists with auditing, inspections, and trainings related to growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, distributing, or transporting food products
- SWACO’s Food Waste Audit Tool (Local Government) - Helps businesses identify current waste practices and opportunities for improvement
Funding Opportunities
Networking & Mentorship
Food Waste Businesses
It’s important to remember that local, state, and federal regulations may prohibit or restrict certain activities. Please refer to the following portal pages for additional information:
Business Incubation
- EDGE Innovation Hub (For-Profit) - Incubation services for food technology entrepreneurs, including networking and educational events
Business Planning & Marketing
Food Waste, Environmental Sustainability, & Energy Efficiency
Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Ohio EPA - Composting (State Government) - Information and resources related to composting rules and facilities
Funding Opportunities
Networking & Mentorship
- Franklin County Local Food Council - Grassroots advisory group focused on networking, education, and community engagement around the food system
- OSU Food Waste Collaborative (Public University) - Collection of researchers, practitioners, and students working together to promote the reduction and redirection of food waste