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Getting Started

Cumberland Culinary Center Getting Started in Food Manufacturing

The Cumberland Culinary Center (CCC) requires that the following are obtained prior to making an application to the CCC for kitchen utilization. Please note that all applications must be approved by the CCC Board of Directors.

Business Requirements

  1. A county business license from your county of residence is required. If your business is within the boundaries of a city, you will also be required to have a city license.
     
  2. If your business is within the state of Tennessee, you will need a sale and use tax registration number. For additional information please visit https://apps.tn.gov/bizreg/
     
  3. All specialty food producers are required to provide the Cumberland University a product liability insurance certificate. The minimum requirement is $500,000.00 and Cumberland University must be identified as a certificate holder.

Product Requirements

  1. Specialty Food Producers are required to submit Process Control information for each product which is intended to be manufactured at the CCC. Sample forms are available in both PDF and Excel format. Save the selected file and rename the file and insert your company’s name. These files can be found at the following locations:
  2. In addition the following items should also be available for review:
    • Containers and closures not purchased from Richards Packaging will require a supplier compliance letter which indicates that the packaging is food grade and is in compliance with FDA regulations.
    • In the event that you intend to purchase ingredients from other than the following sources: Sysco, PFG, GFS, RFS, Sam’s, Costco, US Foods, Doug Jeffords, and Food Service Direct, please submit ingredient specification data sheets with the process documentation as defined above.
    • Once the above data sheets have been approved please complete the Customer Registration Form as indicated below.
       
  3. Download and complete the Customer Registration Form (and provide the supporting information indicated): Click here
     
  4. Once the Customer Registration form and supporting documentation (items 4 and 5) have been approved by the CCC Board of Directors, you will be notified via e-mail that your company is eligible for “Manufacturing within the CCC”; the CCC will notify Tennessee Department of Agriculture Regulatory Service (TDA) of your company’s approval.
     
  5. The CCC will require a copy of an approved Tennessee Department of Agriculture Regulatory Services Permit (current year) if you have an existing permit issued from another facility (e.g. Clinch Powel Kitchen); it is transferable to the CCC. You can send an email to Ron Murphy ronald.murphy@tn.gov to request the address change. Please email a copy of the TDA approved registration to Sue Sykes (mrgreen1@bellsouth.net).
     
  6. Both TDA and CCC require that someone on the individual company’s team has received formal training on Food Safety. Information on training available from UT Knoxville can be found at the link below: http://foodscience.tennessee.edu/Extension_pages/workshops.html
     
  7. If you do not have a TDA Permit, you are required to apply for the permit by utilizing the questionnaire listed here.
     
  8. The questionnaire above has been modified specifically for “Manufacturing within the CCC” and hence some of the information has already been completed. Save the file with your company name and make the necessary changes. You are required to provide your company specific information; product processing; product labels, etc.
    • It is recommended that all material as defined within the questionnaire be scanned and added to the questionnaire file. Recommended format is PDF.
    • This material can be sent via email to Ron Murphy ronald.murphy@tn.gov at Tennessee Department of Agriculture Regulatory Services. He can also be reached at (615) 837-5153 for additional information or questions.
       
  9. Once the TDA permit has been approved (or reassigned ) your company is eligible to request Membership this form can be located here.
     
  10. An inspection will be scheduled for the first time the kitchen is utilized by your company and for all annual inspections. The annual cost of the inspection is $50.00; payable to Tennessee Department of Agriculture. All scheduling of the CCC is coordinated through Sue Sykes (615) 453-1617 mrgreen1@bellsouth.net .

This may seem to be a complicated process. Be assured that we are here to help you and we want to help you produceproducts that are safe as well as tasty. Our industry is facing many changes with the Food Modernization Act and both the Tennessee Department of Agriculture andhe Cumberland Culinary Center are your partners in your new business venture.