Farmers market workshop poster 2012
1
Farmers’ Market Workshop In Southeast Missouri Aufdenberg, D.I. 1 1. Donna I. Aufdenberg, Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Marble Hill, MO, 63764, Bollinger County, [email protected] Abstract In the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of small vegetable growers that want to sell produce and value added products at Farmers’ Markets in Southeast Missouri. There is a great need for educating these growers on vegetable and fruit production, marketing, selling, and local rules and regulations. The Farmers’ Market Workshop offered topics to beginner and experienced growers alike covering Health Department Regulations, Conventional and Biological Insect Control, Educational and Grant Funding Opportunities, Marketing at Farmers’ Markets, Building the Soil Organically, Certifying Scales and Growing Specialty Crops in a day long program split into 45 minute sessions. Participants networked with other growers and extension professionals as well as gained knowledge of valuable resources. The Farmers’ Market Workshop attracted participants from a 10 county area with a total of 69 attendees representing 6 area markets. Participants rated the value of the topics covered in the Farmers’ Market Workshop at 4.66 on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most effective. The overall rating for the workshop was 4.71. Objectives • To inform growers on organic or natural ways of building the soil and insect control. • To educate Vendors and Growers about current grants and funding opportunities. • To encourage Farmers’ Market Vendors to certify scales with Weights and Measures, a division of Missouri Department of Agriculture. • To educate vendors on current food safety Regulation and Consumer Safety. • To educate vendors on marketing techniques and encourage creativity. A participant’s booth at the Farmers’ Market in Farmington, MO selling vegetables. Impacts • 69 participants from 10 counties represented 6 local Farmers’ Markets. • 100% of participants who returned the survey indicated that the Farmers’ Market Workshop was a worthwhile use of their time. • Of Farmers’ Market vendors who attended the program, 70% indicated they were likely to make changes in the next season based on what they learned at the workshop. • 43% of participants indicated they would make changes in insect control and/or soil management practices. • 36% of participants indicated they would be reviewing their business plan and making changes to their marketing strategies. • 40% of Farmers’ Market Vendors certified their scales. Workshop Information The Farmers’ Market Workshop was conducted on January 31, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It was held in Fredericktown, Missouri. During the workshop, there were seven topics that were presented by instructors lasting 45 minutes each. The topics included: • Certifying Farmers’ Market Scales • Health department regulations • Building the Soil Organically • Educational and Grant Funding Opportunities • Marketing at Farmers’ Markets • Conventional and Biological Insect Control • Growing Specialty Crops Evaluation of the program was done by surveying participants who attended the workshop. Forty-seven out of 69 surveys were returned. Food Safety 11% Soil Improvement 40% Business Skills 26% Marketing 23% Insect Control 36% Improvements Planned By Participants To Market Operations Percent of Participants* Areas of Planned Improvement *Some participants indicated more than one area of planned improvement. Try Specialty Crops 15% 5 10 20 15 25 35 30 40 45 A participant’s booth at the Farmers’ Market in Marble Hill, MO selling flowers and bedding plants. Katie Kammler, Plant Science Specialist with University of Missouri Extension, teaching about Specialty Crops during the workshop.
Transcript of Farmers market workshop poster 2012
Farmers’ Market Workshop
In Southeast Missouri
Aufdenberg, D.I.1 1. Donna I. Aufdenberg, Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Marble Hill, MO, 63764, Bollinger County, [email protected]
Abstract
In the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of small vegetable
growers that want to sell produce and value added products at Farmers’ Markets in
Southeast Missouri. There is a great need for educating these growers on vegetable and fruit
production, marketing, selling, and local rules and regulations. The Farmers’ Market
Workshop offered topics to beginner and experienced growers alike covering Health
Department Regulations, Conventional and Biological Insect Control, Educational and Grant
Funding Opportunities, Marketing at Farmers’ Markets, Building the Soil Organically,
Certifying Scales and Growing Specialty Crops in a day long program split into 45 minute
sessions. Participants networked with other growers and extension professionals as well as
gained knowledge of valuable resources. The Farmers’ Market Workshop attracted
participants from a 10 county area with a total of 69 attendees representing 6 area markets.
Participants rated the value of the topics covered in the Farmers’ Market Workshop at 4.66 on
a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most effective. The overall rating for the workshop was 4.71.
Objectives
• To inform growers on organic or natural ways of building the soil and insect control.
• To educate Vendors and Growers about current grants and funding opportunities.
• To encourage Farmers’ Market Vendors to certify scales with Weights and Measures, a
division of Missouri Department of Agriculture.
• To educate vendors on current food safety Regulation and Consumer Safety.
• To educate vendors on marketing techniques and encourage creativity.
A participant’s booth at the Farmers’ Market in
Farmington, MO selling vegetables.
Impacts
• 69 participants from 10 counties represented 6 local Farmers’ Markets.
• 100% of participants who returned the survey indicated that the Farmers’ Market
Workshop was a worthwhile use of their time.
• Of Farmers’ Market vendors who attended the program, 70% indicated they were likely to
make changes in the next season based on what they learned at the workshop.
• 43% of participants indicated they would make changes in insect control and/or soil
management practices.
• 36% of participants indicated they would be reviewing their business plan and making
changes to their marketing strategies.
• 40% of Farmers’ Market Vendors certified their scales.
Workshop Information
The Farmers’ Market Workshop was conducted on January 31, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00
p.m. It was held in Fredericktown, Missouri. During the workshop, there were seven topics
that were presented by instructors lasting 45 minutes each. The topics included:
• Certifying Farmers’ Market Scales
• Health department regulations
• Building the Soil Organically
• Educational and Grant Funding Opportunities
• Marketing at Farmers’ Markets
• Conventional and Biological Insect Control
• Growing Specialty Crops
Evaluation of the program was done by surveying participants who attended the workshop.
Forty-seven out of 69 surveys were returned.
Foo
d
Safety
11%
Soil Im
pro
veme
nt
40%
Bu
sine
ss Skills
26%
Marketin
g
23%
Inse
ct Co
ntro
l
36%
Improvements Planned By Participants To Market Operations
Pe
rcen
t of P
articipan
ts*
Areas of Planned Improvement *Some participants indicated more than one area of planned improvement.
Try Spe
cialty C
rop
s
15%
5
10
20
15
25
35
30
40
45
A participant’s booth at the Farmers’ Market in
Marble Hill, MO selling flowers and bedding
plants.
Katie Kammler, Plant Science Specialist with
University of Missouri Extension, teaching about
Specialty Crops during the workshop.
