AURI Videos

Learn more about AURI’s innovation initiatives through these AURI video productions. 

Packaging Guide for Scaling Food Businesses

Packaging Guide for Scaling Food Businesses

Most packaged food businesses start in a similar manner, with an entrepreneur producing at home or in a shared kitchen, hand packing products into relatively simple, often store-bought packaging, and selling at a farmer’s market or self-distributing to a handful of stores. However, as these businesses grow, their packaging needs to evolve. Whether the business will continue to self-produce or enlist a contract manufacturer or co-packer, the packaging must change to support distribution through a supply chain, allow retailers to effectively merchandise the product and differentiate itself from other products on the shelf. While every business is unique, there

Smude Sunflower Oil

After the hot, dry summer of 2007 took a toll on Tom Smude’s corn and soybean crops, he learned that hardy sunflower plants could thrive in such adverse conditions, and he began to explore the idea of producing sunflower oil.

St. Paul Switchel

Long a staple in American farms, children carried switchel out to the hayfields in mason jars so their parents could hydrate and reenergize. This was the thirst-quencher of choice for farmers during haying season, earning the nickname Haymaker’s Punch. It’s a blend of apple cider vinegar, fresh ginger and wildflower honey from local bees. http://www.stpaulswitchel.com/

AURI & Prairie Smoke Barbeque Sauce

Prairie Smoke Barbeque Sauce is produced, bottled, and marketed at Westbrook Walnut Grove High School, a small school in Southwestern Minnesota, as part of a Student Entrepreneurship program. AURI provided nutritional analysis and assistance.
AURI & Terroir Chocolate

AURI & Terroir Chocolate

Idea: While on their honeymoon, Kristin and Josh Mohagen honeymooned in Napa Valley, ready for an adventure in wine-tasting. What really piqued their tastebuds, though, were the exquisite products of chocolate makers they found in the valley and in San Francisco. Today, the Mohagens are creating artisan chocolate straight from Fergus Falls, Minnesota, with just two ingredients—cocoa beans from a plant whose scientific name “Theobroma Cacao” means “food of the gods,” and sugar.

Artisan Cheese: A Tasty Trend

Americans love cheese. In fact, the USDA says U.S. cheese consumption is up 42 percent in the past 25 years. The average American consumes more than 33 pounds of cheese each year, still less than half of the nearly 72 pounds per year consumed by people in Greece and nearly 53 pounds by the French.
AURI & Philia Foods

AURI & Philia Foods

Mike Rakes took a family recipe from an entrepreneurship project to a commercial reality. Philia Foods feta spreads are now in more than 70 Minnesota outlets, creating another market for locally-produced cheese. More information can be found at philiafoods.com.
AURI Overview Video

AURI Overview Video

AURI helps develop new uses for agricultural products through science and technology, partnering with businesses and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to reality.
AURI Process Development

AURI Process Development

Learn about AURI’s process development. AURI helps develop new uses for agricultural products through science and technology, partnering with businesses and entrepreneurs to bring ideas to reality.