The Food, Beverage, and Natural Products Industry is very important to Western North Carolina. The following resources can provide assistance to those who are considering starting a business in this industry as well as existing businesses.
BioNetwork is a Life Science Training Initiative of the North Carolina Community College System. At their A-B Tech location, the focus is on the food, beverage, and natural products industry. We host classes, offer laboratory rental space and testing services, and maintain a small test kitchen for recipe pilot testing and product development. The BioNetwork team can also provide on-site/virtual customized training as well.
The Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast®(CBI)at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is designed to support the rapidly growing craft beverage industry in Western North Carolina and the Southeast by providing curriculum and non-credit courses in brewing, distilling, fermentation, and related business practices. The Institute prepares individuals for positions in brewery and distillery operations and management, distribution, sales and marketing, and customer service or to be self-employed and open their own craft production facility.