Food Accelerator Program

Esther Luongo Psarakis brings over 30 years experience. As President of Foodpreneur ™, an educational consultancy, she saw a need to better address the educational needs of entrepreneurial food companies, creating a comprehensive curriculum for launching a specialty foods company. She also works with established international companies seeking to launch products in the US.

As an advisor with the NJ Small Business Development Centers, she primarily focuses on food-centric companies. Her strong skill set on mentoring, concept development, business plan and sales strategies has been applied to a wide range of companies. Examples include; bakery products, baby food, ethnic foods, healthy beverages, popcorn, jams, dips, and vegan foods. One of her business plans was selected for publication in the latest edition of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Business Plans.”

As an entrepreneur, Esther launched Taste of Crete, a gourmet food company which imported artisan Greek food products and created a line of Greek cookies and fresh prepared meals which sold at King’s, Whole Foods, and Shoprite. Its products have been featured in The New York Times, New Jersey Monthly, Star Ledger, Food & Wine, Saveur, Better Homes & Gardens, USA Today, The Huffington Post, and Philadelphia Inquirer.

Esther has been a speaker for a variety of organizations, including the Specialty Food Association, been featured in The New York Times, New Jersey Monthly, USA Today and The Huffington Post, appeared on FOX News, ABC, Channel 12, Ebru TV, WSOU 89.5 and Martha Stewart Radio. Some awards include, NJSBDC Success Award, Somerset County Business Partnership Small Business Economic Vitality Award, and Sam’s Club Emerging Women Entrepreneur.

Esther held leadership roles in international sales, strategic planning, training and account management with American Express and Citigroup. She received a B.A. in Communications from Douglass College, Rutgers University, and is a graduate of the Rutgers Graduate School of Business Entrepreneurial Pioneers Initiative Program and holds a Certificate in International Market Entry from the US Department of Commerce.