AGRBM X003 - Food Business Central
Food Business Central equips food entrepreneurs with knowledge and strategy to launch a successful farm-raised or home-based food business in Ohio. This self-paced course is designed for anyone wanting to start a packaged food business. This includes small or beginning farmers looking for value-added opportunities for crops grown or livestock raised on their farms. It also includes those who want to utilize local agricultural products to make and sell value-added foods. Navigating food regulations and applying best practices for food safety can be challenges for food business owners. This course is designed to serve as a centralized hub to connect participants to information and resources regarding all types of food products they might want to make and sell.
Delivery Options
Online, Self-Paced:
This course is delivered fully online with no scheduled class sessions or fixed due dates. You can start coursework at any time and work through it independently at your own pace between January 1 and May 31, 2025.
Time to Completion
This course is projected to take approximately 7.5 hours to complete.
Course Completion Requirements
To be eligible for a certificate of completion, learners must complete all five Core Modules (Modules 1–5), at least one Food Category Specific Module, and the final “My Food Business Action Plan” assignment.
Technology Requirements
- Reliable internet connection
- Computer or tablet that supports the most recent web browser versions and can play MP4 files
- Recommended browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge
- Adobe Acrobat Reader (free download available here)
What You’ll Learn
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Match appropriate legal compliance for food types depending on location of production and sale
- Identify best practices for food safety
- Compare and contrast business entities and liability insurance
- Create “My Food Business Action Plan” to assist with next steps in launching a successful food business
What You’ll Earn
A certificate of completion issued by The Ohio State University.
Additional Information
This course consists of 10 modules. Each module includes short videos and readings and is designed to take approximately 30–45 minutes to complete. While not all modules are required, learners must complete the five Core Modules and one Food Category Specific Module to earn the certificate.
Core Modules:
M1: My Food Business Idea
M2: Start Off Organized (Legal Start-Up and Insurance)
M3: Start Off Safe (Food Safety Basics)
M4: Start Off Compliant (Understanding Food Law)
M5: Start Off Strategic (Food Business Marketing)
Food Category Specific Modules:
M6: Baked Goods and Cottage Foods
M7: Canned Foods
M8: Selling Meat
M9: Poultry and Eggs
M10: Other Foods
Thank you to the funders of this project. This material is based upon work supported by USDA-NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34694.
Contact Us
For questions about enrollment, payment options, technology support, or course records, please contact our Enrollment Support team. Inquiries are typically answered within 24 business hours.
For questions about course content or learning objectives, please contact Emily Marrison – marrison.12@osu.edu