STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service will host a workshop designed to deliver food science, economics and business expertise to producers.

Anyone who operates or is interested in operating a farm or any other agriculture-based food business can attend the Food as a Business for Producers workshop in the Bost Conference Center auditorium at Mississippi State University in Starkville on Jan. 24, 2018.

The one-day workshop is designed to help participants learn the basics of starting their own ag-based businesses and strengthening their food safety and marketing efforts to gain access to growing local markets. Workshop topics will include guidelines to setting up businesses; product costing, pricing and recordkeeping; labor and wages guidelines, online marketing; produce safety rules and good agricultural practices; and food preservation safety and regulations.

The $15 registration fee for the workshop covers lunch, refreshments and course materials.

Email Courtney Crist at cac400@msstate.edu or Elizabeth Canales at dec249@msstate.edu or visit the MSU Extension Event Calendar at http://extension.msstate.edu/calendar/events for a registration form or more information about the workshop.

MSU Extension, the Mississippi Small Business Development Center, Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce are the supporting partners of this workshop.