Business Development Tools    International    Industry Contacts

Industry Statistics    Renewable Energy

*Information is provided as a service. Some resources listed are not published by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Inclusion in this listing does not constitute an endorsement by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

DIRECTORIES

• 8 Great Reasons to Buy Local

• Colorado Agriculture from A to Z

• Colorado Co-Pack Directory   - Agricultural and food processors willing to contract manufacture.
• Colorado Farm Fresh Directory

     Consumer guide to farmers' markets and roadside stands
• Colorado Food & Agricultural Directory
• Colorado Food & Agriculture Gift Guide

• Colorado Hay Directory

• Colorado Meat Directory

• Colorado Proud Brochure

• Colorado Proud Restaurant Guide

• Colorado Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch List
• Colorado Wine Country Brochure
• Colorado Crop Calendar-English

• Colorado Crop Calendar-Spanish

• Inside Ag Newsletter
• Picking Colorado Produce Tips

 

 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TOOLS

Guide to Marketing Services Brochure

 

Marketing Your Food Product Workshop Presentations

 

• Nutrition Analysis, Labeling & Marketing
• Marketing Plans are a Must!
• Marketing Plan Worksheet
• Branding 101
• Creating a Media Opportunity
• Local Labels Program

 

Getting Started

 

• Acidified and Low-Acid Canned Foods Regulations
• Checklist for Start-up Food Processors  - lists critical steps in starting a food processing business
• Colorado Business Resource Guide
• Colorado Co-Pack Directory   - agricultural and food processors willing to contract manufacture.
• Do's and Don'ts for Food Processors  - handling common business situations
• HACCP Information
• Licenses Required for Colorado Businesses
• Small Business Guide to the FDA
• New Mexico State University Acidified Foods Course

 

Business Plans and Marketing Plans

 

• Build a Business Plan - online business plan tool
• Business Plan Outline

• Developing a Marketing Plan for Agricultural Commodity Groups

• Developing a Marketing Plan for your Food Product

• Marketing Plan Presentation

 

Food Safety and Labeling

 

• Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment-Consumer Protection Division
• Colorado County Health Departments
• Colorado State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition  
• Food Labeling Guide
• Food Labeling Information
• Nutrition Facts Label Presentation

• Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms

 

Financing and Grants

 

• Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy (ACRE) Program
• Colorado Enterprise Fund - small business loans
• Colorado Housing and Finance Authority-lists business finance programs.
• Colorado Rural Development Grants
• Farmers Markets Promotion Program Grants
• Federal Government Grants
• Specialty Crops Grants
• Value-Added Producer Grants

 

Marketing Tools

 

• Advertising on a Budget Presentation

• Distributors

• Food Brokers

• Niche Beef Production and Marketing
• Ten Tips for Better Branding

• Total Brand Experience Presentation

 

Farms/Farmers' Markets

 

• Colorado Farm Fresh Directory

• Developing a Farmers' Market
• Farmers Market Resource Guide
• Farmers' Market Food Safety Guide

• Getting Started with Farmers' Markets
• North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association
• Recruiting Vendors for a Farmers' Market
• Southwest Marketing Network
• Tips for Farmers' Market Vendors

 

Additional Resources

 

• Agricultural Marketing Resource Center
• Colorado Department of Revenue
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
• Colorado Secretary of State Business Center
• Colorado Purchasing Office, BIDS System
• Colorado Small Business Administration
• GS1- obtaining a bar code
• Service Guide
• SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business"
• Small Business Development Centers
• United States Patent and Trademark Office
• USDA Photo Library

INTERNATIONAL

International Trade Reports and Market Development Assistance

 

• Analysis of US-Mexico Agricultural Trade Since NAFTA

• Canadian Nutrition Facts Labels

• Colorado's 2007 International Agricultural Outlook Report
• Colorado's Agricultural Export Trends

• Colorado Economic Outlook Forum-International Trade

• Colorado's Expanding Organic Industry

• Export Trade Barrier Report

• The China Report

• Search all USDA Export Events
• Search WUSATA Events
• Survey of Colorado Companies on Exporting

 

English Language Brochures

 

• Livestock Brochure-English

• Organic Brochure-English

• Produce Brochure-English

• The Ranchers Pocket Size English & Spanish Dictionary ($5.95)

 

Spanish Language Brochures (En Español)

 

• Livestock Brochure-Spanish

• Produce Brochure-Spanish

• El Ganado de Colorado

• The Ranchers Pocket Size English & Spanish Dictionary ($5.95)

 

Japanese Language Brochures

 

• Organic Brochure-Japanese

• Produce Brochure-Japanese

 

Import Assistance

 

• Resources on Importing Agricultural Products

INDUSTRY CONTACTS

Colorado Livestock Contacts

Organic Contacts

Colorado Produce Contacts

INDUSTRY STATISTICS AND SECTOR REPORTS