Greensboro, NC – Kitchen Connects GSO, the area’s first dedicated food artisan incubator program, is accepting applications to its program through May 15 for its final session.
Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc. (GFM) facilitates the six week training program that offers participants Business 101, merchandising and marketing classes as well as one on one mentoring. In addition, participants that pass the food safety course taught by the Guilford County Coop Extension get a chance to prepare their foods at no cost at the shared use community kitchen operated by Out of the Garden Project. Upon completion of the classes, the food artisans have the opportunity to test market their products for valuable feedback at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. GFM Executive Director, Lee Mortensen notes, “Kitchen Connects GSO was the first of its kind in the area that brings together food safety and small-business training classes, access to a shared-use kitchen and guest-vending to create a unique, local food incubator program.”
Kitchen Connects GSO is particularly interested in farmers, diversity of food and ethnic culinary products that can help support underserved communities and create new economic development for the City of Greensboro. Applicants with ideas and recipes for small-batch, processed foods using locally sourced ingredients are encouraged to apply through the website, www.kitchenconnectsgso.com. Applications are due by May 15, 2019. Scholarships are available based on income.
The program has churned out 67 graduates to date with several participating weekly at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market as vendors. Graduates include Poppy’s Pickles, Breez Cheez, Haw River Mushroom, River’s Finest, Fermentology, PaleoLove Company, Empasta, with value-added products from pickles and ferments to mushroom jerky and vegan cheese sauce.
Kitchen Connects GSO is made possible through a partnership with City of Greensboro and funded through a USDA Local Foods Promotion Program grant.
About the Market
Greensboro Farmers Market, Inc. (GFM) operates the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on behalf of the City of Greensboro. GFM is a 501c3 nonprofit. GFM provides greater Greensboro with opportunities to purchase and learn about local food and setting. GFM encourages and supports the growth of local foods and artisan goods businesses to improve greater Greensboro’s economy, support better health through healthy eating and build social and community connections.
Location and Hours of Operation
The Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, 501 Yanceyville Street, is located at the corner of Lindsey Street and Yanceyville Street across from the War Memorial Stadium and operates year-round on Saturdays 7 am to 12 pm and seasonally on Wednesday, Mid-Week Market 8 am- 12 noon (April 17– October 30). The Market is an indoor facility with free admission, WiFi, and plenty of free parking as well as an ATM on site.
Contact: Ashlee Furr, gfmlocalfood@gmail.com
Lee Mortensen, Executive Director, gsofarmersmarket@gmail.com
339-373-2402