Empower Farmers to Expand Their Business
The Beyond Fresh VAP provides a vital on-ramp for farmers and food entrepreneurs to participate in the regional food supply chain.
Participants learn to create new revenue streams through value-added products with expert-led training, gaining the knowledge and tools they need to develop, market, and sell value-added products successfully.
“Over 50% of our sales come from value-added products. We would be out of business if we didn’t create and sell them.”
— Alex Bernhardt, Bernhardt’s Fruit & Veggie Farm
Participants Get:
- Expert-Led Curriculum – Lifetime access to the Beyond Fresh Online 9-course series covering value-added product development, regulatory compliance, marketing, and business strategies.
- Cohort-Based Learning – Engage with a group of peers and local food processing expert, April Harrington, for collaborative learning, support, and accountability.
- One-on-One Consultation – Graduates receive a free 1-hour business consultation to refine their value-added product strategy.
- Business Growth Support – Qualified graduates receive a Letter of Support that can be applied for bonus points when applying for Business Builder grants to help fund their ventures. This is customized to meet USDA Regional Food Business Center needs.
Why Enroll a Beyond Fresh Cohort?
✔ Create farmer success for your Business Builder grants
✔ Support your Technical Assistance program
✔ Let TXFED provide practical content to motivate farmers to actively participate and graduate
✔ Your organization will receive:
- Participation Reports
- Business Readiness Assessment Scores with Recommendations
- Letters of Support from a Local Food Processing Expert for business plans deemed ready for funding
“As a very small organization, we endeavor to provide high-caliber resources to our stakeholders while using our limited resources efficiently and effectively. By collaborating with trusted partners like the Texas Center for Local Food, who have a proven track record of impactful technical assistance that leads to business sustainability across the food system, we can leverage our funding and maximize our impact. We don’t need to be ‘the everything for everyone’, we just need to know the folks that know things we don’t.”
—Bahia Nightengale, Executive Director
Louisiana Central Delta RFBC
Pricing: $1,000 per student
- Cohort Pricing (6–10 Participants) $6,000–$10,000 per cohort
Who Should Enroll?
The Beyond Fresh program is ideal for farmers and food business owners looking to:
✔ Develop and sell value-added products
✔ Reduce food waste and increase profitability
✔ Navigate regulations and compliance with confidence
✔ Strengthen their market presence and customer engagement
✔ Expand their value-added business
Partner with Us
Regional Food Business Centers, technical assistance providers, and agricultural organizations enroll cohorts to support their producers in developing value-added enterprises. By enrolling participants in the Beyond Fresh Program, your organization helps farmers build sustainable, resilient businesses and a robust local food system.
Get Started Today!
For more information or to enroll a cohort, contact us at
📧 Business@TexasLocalFood.org