Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The Program

Getting Your Recipe to Market gives you the skills to:

• Understand industry essentials, and avoid common mistakes. Our program is designed to teach you the ins and outs of the food industry and help you avoid costly mistakes. Food industry experts will teach you how to produce, promote, and sell your product. Learn about product development, food science, packaging, distribution, and more.
• Connect with and gather insight from local food professionals. In each class, you’ll meet experts working in the food industry such as grocery buyers, co-packers, food scientists, packaging experts, regulators, and more. You’ll also have your product reviewed by New Seasons Market buyers.
• Prepare for the commercial market. We’ll cover core marketing principles for promoting a consumer food product, giving your product the best chance to succeed. Learn how to calculate costs of goods sold (COGS), conduct break-even analysis, and other financial keys to creating a profitable product.
• Get one-on-one help building your food product business. We’re here for you as you launch your product and continue to grow your business after the program. Your advisor will work with you to develop an action plan and provide guidance in making key business decisions.

Each week we’ll bring in subject-matter experts to teach on important areas. Each session is 3 hours long.

Subjects include:

• marketing
• product costing and pricing
• food science & safety
• licensing & regulations
• producing in a commercial kitchen or with a co-packer
• brand development
• label compliance
• selling to grocery buyers
• selling in farmer’s markets
• alternative sales channels
• distribution
• food business law
• and more!

Click here to download a sample syllabus for this program.

Getting Your Recipe to Market is good fit for you, if:

• You have a complete and consistent recipe.
• You have no retail sales.
• You have time to dedicate to class, advising, and the work.
• You want to make your food business idea a reality.

The Investment

• Time: Getting Your Recipe to Market is a 12-week course that includes 36 hours of classroom education. Every session is 3 hours, during which you will participate in the New Seasons evaluation.
• Financial: Tuition for Getting Your Recipe to Market is $2,495.
  • Early Bird Special: Register by December 15, 2025 to receive $200 off tuition!

The Return

Getting Your Recipe to Market is more than just a class. It’s a comprehensive training program that includes:

• A 30 minute meeting with New Seasons Market buyers to pitch your brand and present your product(s).  You will receive valuable feedback and the opportunity to have your products placed into the New Seasons stores.
• One-on-one business advising.
• Complimentary access to Business Design Series, SBDC’s business planning course.
• Supportive learning through your cohort/peers.
• Access to business advisors with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise.

Alumni Stories

Featured Case Studies

Learn more about the journeys of your favorite products.

• Pistakio: Love & Pistachios
• 41 Grains: Family Farming & Gluten Free Mixes in Montana
• Driftwest: Transitioning from Cold-Chain to Shelf-Stable with Sparkle
• Hot Mama Salsa: From Farm to Table to Bestselling Chips
• Imaginary Granola: A Guide for Determining Product Viability
• Koa Roots: Bootstrapping in the Pacific Northwest
• Moku Chocolate: Bean to Bar to Award-Winning Chocolate
• Our Favorite Foods: Duker’s Dills to Partner Brand
• Tam’s Sweets: Winning Hearts (and Saving Teeth) With Soft Brittle
• Willamette Valley Lavender: Thinking Globally to Make an Impact Locally

How do I register for Getting Your Recipe to Market?

You will receive instructions to register after your guided interview.

Do you work with marijuana-related food products?

At this time, we can not work with businesses that are incorporating marijuana into their food product due to federal restrictions.

Does Getting Your Recipe to Market also work for animal-related food products?

Getting Your Recipe to Market is for products that are for human consumption only.

Are there any requirements for the program?

There are three requirements: you have a completed recipe, you have not had retail sales, and you have a guided interview before enrolling in the program. Contact the SBDC at sbdc@pcc.edu for more information about this program.

Any more questions?

Contact the SBDC at sbdc@pcc.edu or 971-722-5080.