The Packing House

A urban food production space catering to local growers who are turning crops into value-added products.

We're pleased to introduce The Packing House, a component of our CoMo Cooks Shared Kitchen designed for local growers interested in developing and manufacturing value-added food products.

We teamed up with the Root Cellar and Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri on a Local Food Promotion Program grant offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This grant will build local food system resilience and help our region adapt to market changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic by assisting regional growers with small-batch production, product distribution, and promotion. The CoMo Cooks Shared Kitchen will play a key role in this effort by providing affordable kitchen space and equipment to farmers throughout the Mid-Missouri region.

What our kitchen offers:

Health department certified spaces
Flexible rental hours + 24 hour scheduling
Affordable rates and tiered membership levels
Equipment training via the staff at CoMo Cooks
Distribution assistance

Available Equipment

Small-Batch Production Equipment
Crop Production Room
Fermenting Space
Hot Line
Prep Stations
Baking Station
Automatic Dish Machine
Dry Storage Cages
Freezers
Refrigerators
20 Quart Mixer + Vegetable Slicer
60 Quart Mixer
Air Fryer
Apple Peeler
Bag Sealers
Blast Freezer
Char Broiler
Commercial Blender (1 gallon)
Convection Ovens
Dehydrator (24 tray)
Food Processors
Food Slicer
Freeze Dryer (X large)
Garlic Peeler (8 lb capacity)
Griddle
Proofers
Ranges
Rice Cooker
Smallwares and Knives
Spice Grinder
Stock Pots and Steamers

Additional Benefits

Tiered billing for a range of client needs, including seasonal users
Low $18/hour rates for crop processing, no deposit or long-term commitment required
Minimal permitting--and no Columbia business license required.
Online reservation system
Collaborative entrepreneurial environment
Access to business workshops and coaching
PR + social media support for businesses and startups
Participation in the CREATECoMo shared branding program for local makers
For more information, contact kitchen manager Trish Sieckmann at [email protected] or call 573-443-LOOP (5667)

Location

We are located at 14 E. Business Loop 70. Please enter the commercial kitchen from the back of the building, via the east-west running alley between Grand and Garth. Download printable directions.

All kitchen users are required to attend a mandatory kitchen orientation held on the third Thursday of each month from 12:30 to 2:00 pm.

For more information, contact Trish Robertson, our kitchen manager, at [email protected] or at 573-443-LOOP (5667). The Packing House