Sierra Commons Food Founder: Start, a No-Cost Food Business Course in Sonora

If you've ever been told your salsa, baked goods, or family recipes should be on store shelves, Food Founder: Start is built for you. This three-week course gives you a clear pathway from kitchen idea to licensed food business.

You'll learn how to navigate permits and food safety rules, price your products for profit, find kitchen space, and reach customers in stores, at farmers' markets, and online. Classes are led by chef, baker, and cookbook author Mani Niall, who founded two bakery-cafés and now develops new products for startups and national brands.

You'll get one-on-one advising from Sierra Commons instructors, SBDC advisors, and regional mentors, during the course and after. Food Founder: Grow, the next course in the series, comes to Sonora in summer 2027, and graduates are invited to FoodX 2027, a regional food marketplace.

Funded in part by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, the course is free. Space is limited, and students complete a short application and intake interview.

📅 December 1–17, 2026 | Tue, Wed, Thu, 5:30–7:00 PM

📍 In-person kickoff at Mother Lode Job Training, Sonora; most sessions online

📝 Apply at: sierracommons.org/foodfounder