(The Heritage Culinary Center in Union County’s Heritage Park on Durham Drive is comprised of a Culinary Teaching Kitchen and a standard Commercial Kitchen. The building was constructed by Union County. The county leases a portion to the non-profit Union County TN Farmers Market. The Farmers Market owns and operates the Heritage Culinary Center).

by Shirlee Grabko and Patrick Hurley

This shared-use Commercial Kitchen at the Heritage Culinary Center is an accessible, professional-grade resource for qualified food manufacturers, caterers, and food truck operators. It is fully equipped with commercial ovens, mixers, prep tables, sinks, refrigeration…everything a chef might need to produce high-quality, market-ready goods efficiently and safely. Several manufacturers use the facilities for crafting their products.

Debbie Meritsky of Eat My Granola mixes up her special cereal here. And the kitchen works well for J+J Street Food to prepare and assemble his fare. Smoked meat is a specialty of The Local Que, and you won’t want to miss the candy bars produced by The Sweetest Pear!

Food trucks and caterers often need additional space to cook, bake, and assemble their dishes, and this Commercial Kitchen provides exactly that. One of the major challenges in commercial food preparation is cleanup. The State of Tennessee Public Health Dept has very specific standards that food trucks and caterers must meet. The washing stations in this kitchen are state-of-the-art, meeting or exceeding all standards.

The design of this workspace supports diverse food makers: bakers crafting artisan breads, caterers prepping for events, food truck operators stocking up for events, value-added producers creating jams/sauces/pickles, and small businesses experimenting with new products.

Are you an entrepreneur considering a manufacturing or catering business, but you just don’t know where to start? Pretty overwhelming, isn’t it? But the Heritage Culinary Center can offer expert guidance on business planning, marketing, and compliance from its team and partners. They can assist you with locating funding opportunities, mentors, and local networks to help you succeed.

Did I mention compliance? The Culinary Center recently had three separate inspections. They passed inspections by the TN Dept of Health, TN Dept of Agriculture, and the FDA with flying colors! The experienced staff has a solid understanding of what is required for compliance and building a business. They can help you understand and learn as well.

For more information on what this kitchen has to offer, please contact UnionFMKT@gmail.com