This workshop will discuss both the legal considerations and food safety requirements for both start-up and existing food businesses. Marlene van Es of Trellis Legal LLC will discuss the process of choosing and setting up an entity for your new food business, things to look for in a commercial lease and important aspects to negotiate, and the basics of bringing on employees, including some best practices.

Representatives from the Allegheny County Health Department Food Safety Program, Eric Lindgren, Plan Review Inspector, and Bob Glidden, Plan Review Administrator will discuss the procedure for obtaining a health permit and how they differentiate between the different types of food operations, such as restaurants, mobile food trucks, festivals, farmer markets, processors, caterers, and more. They will also discuss the requirements for cooking at home, how to become a certified food protection manager, and how to stay in compliance.

Nicolette Spudic, the Food & Agriculture Innovation Lab Coordinator at the Center for Regional Agriculture, Food and Transformations (CRAFT) will be talking about the Lab's services for food entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes. Product development, local ingredient sourcing, go-to-market strategies and more will be discussed.