Food Truck Boot Camp Comes to Cherokee, N.C., Offering Opportunities for EBCI Entrepreneurs

CHEROKEE, N.C. — The Food Truck Boot Camp is rolling into Cherokee, North Carolina, Nov. 17–20, bringing hands-on training for those looking to launch or grow a food truck business.

The four-day event is a collaboration between the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Empowering Mountain Food Systems, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Division of Commerce. Organizers say the boot camp will give participants practical tools to succeed in one of the country’s fastest-growing food service industries.

Sessions will cover food safety, truck layouts, menus, marketing strategies, recipe development, financial planning, enterprise budgeting, fire prevention, and more. Attendees will also have the chance to network with experienced food truck operators and industry experts.

Monique “Nikki” Crisp, owner of Nikki’s Frybread food truck, praised the program as a valuable stepping stone.

“You learn about the business part of it, the networking, safety, branding — even learning how to cook a little and meet new people,” Crisp said. “It is in your best interest to go and experience it; you won’t be sorry.”

For EBCI citizens, the Food Truck Boot Camp offers more than business training — it represents an opportunity to build sustainable careers, support local food traditions, and strengthen the tribal economy. With mobile food services continuing to grow nationwide, Cherokee entrepreneurs have a chance to combine culinary creativity with economic independence.

Image courtesy: https://www.foodtruckoperator.com/