Starting a food business comes with a special set of demands, but the good news is that special help is available, too, usually on a free or a low-cost basis. Here’s a quick rundown on some of the most useful resources here in Kansas City. Ennovation Center  The Ennovation Center, based in Independence, assists several kinds of new businesses, but it might be best known for its kitchen incubator, which…

The food business is a major part of the American economy. Here’s a quick look at this sector, by the numbers. 13.7 percent Specialty foods’ share of all retail food sales   $75.14 billion Total sales of specialty foods in 2011   $3.44 billion Sales of cheese and cheese alternatives, the largest category of specialty food   75 percent Of retailers report that a “local” label is the most influential…

The Berry Nutty Farm is the latest company to graduate from the Ennovation Center. High school students and college seniors aren’t the only ones graduating in May. The Berry Nutty Farm, a company that makes fruit butters and jams, plans to “graduate” from the Ennovation Center and into its own facility in Independence that same month. The move is an important milestone for Andrea Schnetzler and Darrell Tindal, who base…