Recipe for Success
Recipe for Success: Building Food Entrepreneurship
Applications now open: January 20
Applications close: February 13
Program Window: March 22, 2026 - May 11, 2026 (Mondays)
About the Program
Recipe for Success is a food entrepreneurship training program developed by County Food Hub to support emerging food business owners in transforming culinary ideas into sustainable ventures. The program is designed for people with passion and potential in the food industry, whether you are just getting started or refining an existing idea. The program is delivered at no cost to participants. Enrollment requires a fully refundable security deposit, intended to support commitment to participation and returned upon completion of program requirements.
Grounded in principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, Recipe for Success welcomes applications from everyone, including women, people of colour and Indigenous entrepreneurs, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, and others who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to our regional food community.
Program Format
Recipe for Success will run on Mondays from mid March through May 2026 and will include a series of scheduled workshops, mentorship sessions, and learning modules delivered throughout that period. The program is designed to offer in-person learning at multiple locations across Prince Edward County, including the County Food Hub kitchen, Demorestville Town Hall, and Picton Town Hall. Sessions may include worksheets and supplies or other learning materials as appropriate to the topic and instructor.
Each session will blend practical instruction with interactive learning, real-world examples, and peer discussion. Instructors will use teaching approaches that respect and reflect participants’ diverse backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles.
Important Dates:
Application Window: January 20th to February 13th.
Applicants will be notified of decisions by February 20th by email.
Classes run from March 22, 2026 to May 11, 2026 (Monday’s)
How to Apply:
Interested in joining the Recipe for Success program? Applications are submitted through a simple Google Form linked below. Tell us more about you, your goals, and how this program can support your food business journey.
The application deadline is February 13. Space is limited.
Learning Support Needs
If you require this application in paper or an alternate format, or would like assistance with the application process, please contact Melissa at hello@countyfoodhub.com or 343-453-0234. Requiring learning or accessibility support does not affect your eligibility for the program.
County Food Hub is partnering with the Prince Edward Learning Centre to provide additional supports to Recipe for Success participants. Supports may include assistance with child care, transportation, or course materials in alternative formats. These supports are available to successful applicants, and planning for them will take place after acceptance into the program. Please know that supports are in place to help you fully participate and complete the course.
*Link to Application Form
Course Structure:
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Meet your cohort and hear from others who are working in the culinary space, from pop-ups to catering to consumer packaged goods. Meet the tenants at the County Food Hub, ask questions and share stories.
Date: March 22, 2026
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Learn small business basics such as incorporation, taxes, and bookkeeping, with a focus on the unique attributes of food businesses. Learn how to create a robust business plan, for loan applications, pitch meetings and more. We'll also talk about conducting market research and finding funding opportunities.
Date: March 23, 2026
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Meet representatives of the SouthEast Public Health unit, and learn about applications, inspections, requirements and additional resources available to food business operators. You'll get a foundational understanding of food safety, compliance and operational requirements. Our goal is to reduce barriers to getting started, and correct misinformation for early-stage food business development.
Date: March 30, 2026
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Covers government regulations around food packaging and nutritional labelling, best practices in creating compliant nutrition labels and attractive packaging. Will also touch on packaging suppliers, reducing waste, eco-options and more.
Date: March 30, 2026
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A great product gets people through the door—but service keeps them coming back. Learn how to create memorable experiences that leave customers raving about your brand. We’ll cover how to make customer interactions feel personal and professional, how to build your brand through excellent customer service, why great customer care is as powerful as great packaging, and tips for managing challenges with grace and confidence. Walk away with practical strategies to elevate your customer experience and turn one-time buyers into loyal fans.
Date: April 13, 2026
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This session walks you through the essentials of distribution channels, regulatory requirements, and market access strategies so you can confidently scale your brand. Learn how to leverage programs like Foodland Ontario to boost visibility and credibility. You’ll learn about distribution pathways (including direct-to-consumer, wholesale, and retail partnerships), how to pitch to retailers and OMAFA tools and supports to assist in your growth.
Date: April 13, 2026
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The food world has some of the slimmest profit margins and some of the highest rates of loss through waste. It's crucial to design and maintain efficient, profitable operations. In this session, veterans of the culinary world will walk you through production flow and inventory control, plus scheduling, cost tracking, and process optimization.
Date: April 20, 2026
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Taking a recipe from an idea to production scale requires some understanding of how food science works. We'll also discuss shelf stability and some of the principles required to make canned, jarred or packaged food last. This will leave you with a foundational understanding of techniques for commercial recipe development.
Date: April 27, 2026
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Branding is more than a logo—it’s the story customers fall in love with. Learn how to craft a strong brand identity that reflects your values and stands out in a crowded market. We’ll guide you through creating professional marketing materials that make your business look as good as it tastes, and show you how to plan and manage effective social media campaigns. You'll learn how colours, fonts, tone, and visuals tell your story, how to make marketing materials from menus to packaging pop, and how to create engaging content, schedule posts, and grow your online audience without burning out.
Date: May 4, 2026
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Prince Edward County is a destination for food lovers — why not make your product part of the experience? This session explores how to link your business to regional agri-tourism initiatives and leverage the area's reputation for culinary tourism. Learn about festivals, farm tours and tasting events, creating culinary experiences, building your business through farmers markets, establishing partnerships with wineries and tour operators, and crafting narratives that highlight your unique story and build foodie fans.
Date: May 4, 2026
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Your food deserves to look as good as it tastes. Learn the secrets of styling and shooting irresistible photos—even when you’re working on the go. This session focuses on creating scroll-stopping social media content without expensive gear or hours of editing. You’ll learn Simple techniques to make dishes and products look fresh and vibrant, how to use natural light and quick setups for professional-looking shots and tips for creating, capturing, editing, and posting content that drives engagement.
Date: May 11, 2026
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For the closing session, we're bringing together participants, instructors, and local culinary leaders for meaningful conversations and collaboration. You’ll have the chance to share your progress, exchange ideas, and explore partnerships that can take your business to the next level. You'll also learn about programs, funding, and community initiatives to keep your momentum going.
Date: May 11, 2026
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1 free (60 minute)personal consultation, offering free mentorship in the following categories:
-Business start up/planning
-Marketing and Sales
-Recipe development
*Optional
About AWEDI
The Agricultural Workforce Equity and Diversity Initiative (AWEDI) provides funding to organizations to support underrepresented groups in starting or growing their own business in the agri-food sector. This project is funded in part by the Governments of Canada and Ontario under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
