Welcome to the Food Incubator!
The Northern Colorado Food Incubator (NCFI) is dedicated to building a sustainable food economy. Working collaboratively, we support independent community- and land-based businesses and advocate for a whole, resilient community and bio-region. We provide support, guidance and assistance to food-related businesses and entrepreneurs in Northern Colorado.
We provide consultation to help your food-related businesses succeed. On this site, you will find a variety of start-up information and resources, as well as information about events of interest to food entrepreneurs and "local food people."
Need to contact us? Use the little Email icon at the upper right corner of the page.
Looking for information on starting a business or finding a kitchen? See the Start a Business page
Looking for sources of local food? See the Find Local Food pages.
We provide consultation to help your food-related businesses succeed. On this site, you will find a variety of start-up information and resources, as well as information about events of interest to food entrepreneurs and "local food people."
Need to contact us? Use the little Email icon at the upper right corner of the page.
Looking for information on starting a business or finding a kitchen? See the Start a Business page
Looking for sources of local food? See the Find Local Food pages.
What's new?
2016-17 WINTER FARMERS MARKETS: Remaining dates for this season are: Feb. 11 and 25; March 11 and 25; April 8. All Markets 9 AM - 2 PM at the Opera Galleria, 123 North College in Fort Collins.
Feb 15 & 16, 8am to 5pm Scaling Up: Step-by-Step Training: Are you Market Ready? Join us for a two-day training designed to provide the skills to develop and be successful in retail and wholesale markets for fresh produce and livestock products. This training will help you gain proficiency in: packaging; labeling; pricing; supply; delivery; storage; invoicing; insurance; quality assurance and temperature control; and communication strategies with buyers. For ag service providers: Day one, Feb 15; For farmers and ranchers: Day two, Feb 16. Adams County Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Rd. Brighton, CO 80601, Rendezvous room in the Waymire Dome Bldg.
More info & Registration here.
Feb 27, 5:30 - 8 PM The Northern Colorado Food Cluster is holding its Community Annual Meeting. This meeting is free and open to everyone! Please attend to hear about our new objectives and goals for 2017 and mingle with others committed to our local food system. For more information visit the Food Cluster web site.
Third Annual CFVGA Conference, Feb 21, 2017, Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel. Registration and more information is here. Who should attend? Commercial fruit and vegetable growers throughout Colorado of all scales, marketing channels and production practices; and those interested in commercial fruit and vegetable production including exhibitors, media, policy enthusiasts, students, and wellness organizations.
Changing Lands, Changing Hands: A National Conference on Farm and Ranch Access, Tenure and Transfer. This national conference is happening in Denver June 13-15, 2017 at the DoubleTree Denver Stapleton North. See the web site for more information.
There's a new resource for new farmers. The US Dept of Agriculture recently launched a new website designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the country who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to growing a farming or ranching operation, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the website's Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs. Check it out at www.usda.gov/newfarmers
Farmers’ Market Food Safety Training: Iowa State University has designed four online modules to provide science-based information on safe food production and handling specific to farmers' markets, with a focus on specialty foods and good agricultural practices (GAPs). The intended audience is farmers market managers and farmers market vendors. Click here for more info
Charitable Crops Donations brochure with info about how this new program works -- click here.
Feb 15 & 16, 8am to 5pm Scaling Up: Step-by-Step Training: Are you Market Ready? Join us for a two-day training designed to provide the skills to develop and be successful in retail and wholesale markets for fresh produce and livestock products. This training will help you gain proficiency in: packaging; labeling; pricing; supply; delivery; storage; invoicing; insurance; quality assurance and temperature control; and communication strategies with buyers. For ag service providers: Day one, Feb 15; For farmers and ranchers: Day two, Feb 16. Adams County Fairgrounds, 9755 Henderson Rd. Brighton, CO 80601, Rendezvous room in the Waymire Dome Bldg.
More info & Registration here.
Feb 27, 5:30 - 8 PM The Northern Colorado Food Cluster is holding its Community Annual Meeting. This meeting is free and open to everyone! Please attend to hear about our new objectives and goals for 2017 and mingle with others committed to our local food system. For more information visit the Food Cluster web site.
Third Annual CFVGA Conference, Feb 21, 2017, Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel. Registration and more information is here. Who should attend? Commercial fruit and vegetable growers throughout Colorado of all scales, marketing channels and production practices; and those interested in commercial fruit and vegetable production including exhibitors, media, policy enthusiasts, students, and wellness organizations.
Changing Lands, Changing Hands: A National Conference on Farm and Ranch Access, Tenure and Transfer. This national conference is happening in Denver June 13-15, 2017 at the DoubleTree Denver Stapleton North. See the web site for more information.
There's a new resource for new farmers. The US Dept of Agriculture recently launched a new website designed based on feedback from new and beginning farmers and ranchers around the country who cited unfamiliarity with programs and resources as a challenge to starting and expanding their operations. The site features advice and guidance on everything a new farm business owner needs to know, from writing a business plan, to obtaining a loan to growing a farming or ranching operation, to filing taxes as a new small business owner. By answering a series of questions about their operation, farmers can use the website's Discovery Tool to build a personalized set of recommendations of USDA programs and services that may meet their needs. Check it out at www.usda.gov/newfarmers
Farmers’ Market Food Safety Training: Iowa State University has designed four online modules to provide science-based information on safe food production and handling specific to farmers' markets, with a focus on specialty foods and good agricultural practices (GAPs). The intended audience is farmers market managers and farmers market vendors. Click here for more info
Charitable Crops Donations brochure with info about how this new program works -- click here.
