La Cocina is a non-profit organization that provides commercial kitchen space and business resources to help low income women (mostly recent immigrants) take their small, home-based food businesses legit.
For example, the lady that sells tamales from her cart outside the 24th St. BART station could apply to the program, receive help writing a business plan, advice on packaging, nutritional information and marketing and begin selling her tamales at the farmers market, Bi-rite, Rainbow or maybe even Whole Foods.
I recently met two of the women in the program and tried their wares. Both had really strong products that were entirely unique and swoonily delicious.
