Shared Use Kitchen Coalition

An Economic Development Strategy:

Shared Use Commercial Kitchens

· What is a Shared Use Kitchen? A licensed kitchen facility providing small scale food entrepreneurs the space to prepare and process value-added food for consumer marketing. Most facilities also provide training, support and access to other resources and distribution networks.

· Who is part of the Shared Use Kitchen Movement? At least 6 community based projects are operating or underway in various parts of the state. Additionally, co-packers and other organizations are part of this movement. These are also listed.

Fairbanks School Shared Use Kitchen, Farmington (Fact Sheet)

York County Community Kitchen, Saco (Fact Sheet)

Cobscook Marketing Co-op/Community Kitchen, Eastport (Fact Sheet)

Pemberton's Gourmet Foods - A Specialty Food Business and Co-packer

The Prep Kitchen - A Specialty Food Business and Shared Facility

Public Market House - Specialty Foods in Downtown Portland and a Shared Kitchen

· What is the purpose of a Coalition? For a number of years a group of organizations met to advocate the development of Shared Use Kitchens. Coalition members came together to better organize around re-building Maine’s food cluster infrastructure through investment in local production and distribution facilities. The Coalition worked to build awareness, leverage expertise, and coordinate regional development. The Coalition is currently dormant.

· How can Shared Use Kitchen’s help Maine’s Economy? The food sector was one of the industry clusters recognized in the Brookings Report as one of Maine’s competitive industries. In addition,

o Specialty food segment of the retail food industry if fastest growth segment

o Research supports shared use kitchen facilities’ effectiveness in meeting the needs of rural producers

o Concerns about food security and increased interest in ‘buy local’ calls for closer connections among farmers, producers and consumers

· Who would use Shared Use Kitchen Facilities? Farmers, fishermen, food entrepreneurs who may be low to moderate income, lack the resources to invest in their own production facility, who are looking to test new products, expand production and market reach, and create jobs. Shared Use Kitchens can be the first step towards co-packing and larger scale production capacity.

· What is in a Shared Use Kitchen Facility? While exact contents may differ by facility, equipment can include: commercial ovens, ranges, mixers, kettles, industrial food processors, refrigerators, freezers, dry storage, sinks, among other equipment.

Maine’s Shared Use Coalition Organizations
These organizations participated in the Coalition. Other groups, agencies, and organizations are welcome to become part of the Coalition and help restart the group.

York County Community Action Program (Saco Kitchen Project)
York County Shelter (Saco Kitchen Project)
Fairbanks School Neighborhood Association (Farmington Kitchen Project)
Unity Barn Raisers
Washington Hancock Community Agency (Bucksport Kitchen Project)
Down East Business Alliance (Bucksport Kitchen Project)
Town of Bucksport (Bucksport Kitchen Project)
Cobscook Bay Resource Center (Eastport Kitchen Project)
Connections Local Food Cooperative (Rumford and Dixfield Kitchen Projects)
Women, Work, and Community
Maine’s Small Business Development Centers
Maine Rural Partners
University of Maine Dr. Mathew Highlands Pilot Plant
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Threshold To Maine RC&D Area
Time and Tide RC&D Area
Down East RC&D Area
Maine Department of Agriculture
Maine Department of Community and Economic Development
Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
State Planning Office
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Pemberton's Gourmet Foods

Threshold To Maine is actively involved with the development of Shared Use Commercial Kitchens. We provide technical assistance to communities, groups, or individuals that are looking to develop a kitchen project. Please contact us for more information at threshold@gwi.net

1570 Main Street, Suite 10
Oxford, ME 04270-3390
(207) 217-1014

For More Information, you may download the following information

Shared Use Kitchen Coalition Fact Sheet

Kitchen Coalition Talking Points

From Recipe To Market Frequently Asked Questions

Kitchen Project Checklist

Maine Regulatory Information

Shared Use Kitchen Documents Packet

For information on the current Farm Bill please visit the Farm and Food Policy Website.