NC foodies get coaching, tips for business success

RALEIGH — People who think they’ve developed the world’s best hot sauce or terrific pies that restaurants will want to put on their menus can get some coaching on how to build a business.

North Carolina’s Agriculture and Consumer Services Department hosts a food marketing workshop Tuesday at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

The goal is training food entrepreneurs to succeed despite the recession. That includes letting small food businesses hear from buyers for restaurants, supermarkets and institutional kitchens about what they look for from the suppliers they let in the door.

Food, forestry and the rest of the agriculture industry generates more than $60 billion a year in North Carolina and employs more than 20 percent of the work force.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)