Bethany and Cedar Mill residents looking to turn a kitchen recipe into a retail product have a free, 20-year-old training program at PCC Rock Creek. The "Getting Your Recipe to Market" program just marked its anniversary with a feature on KGW's "Hello, Rose City!" as part of a summer series spotlighting PCC programs.

Three PCC Small Business Development Center advisors appeared on the Tuesday, Aug. 4, segment to explain the 12-week course, which the SBDC has run since fall 2006 in partnership with Oregon State University's Food Innovation Center and New Seasons Market.

The program is free.

It covers food safety, packaging and labeling, pricing, production, distribution, marketing and pitching to retailers. Participants who complete the course present their products at a pitch and sampling event at New Seasons Market headquarters, where they get real-time feedback from buyers.

"They show up retail-ready and understand the nuances of label compliance, shelf life, cost of goods and distribution," Lori Hunter, local finds manager at New Seasons Market, said in a March 2026 PCC feature marking the anniversary. "Wholesale isn't intuitive or easy to access, so from a buyer's perspective, this course is incredibly valuable."

Alumni products now sit on New Seasons shelves and at other retailers across the region and nationwide, according to SBDC advisor Kayla Banda, one of the three staffers who appeared on KGW alongside colleagues Jill Beaman and Elisa Wickstrom. Wickstrom herself is a GYRM graduate who launched her own product line before becoming a co-instructor.

SBDC director Tammy Marquez-Oldham highlighted the program's reach in March: "It's incredible to think about how many food entrepreneurs have walked into their first session with an idea, and walked out 12 weeks later with a product and a plan," she said.

A recent cohort included Moriah Krussow, who presented her jams to New Seasons tasters at the pitch event at the grocer's headquarters.

The program is open to aspiring food entrepreneurs throughout Washington County, including Bethany, Cedar Mill and surrounding communities. The next enrollment date has not been announced; interested residents can check pcc.edu/small-business for updates.