Are you currently farming or seriously considering farming as a profession? Then join ASAP, local farmers, agriculture professionals, and business and marketing specialists for this day-long conference with 90-minute learning sessions designed just for you. The event also offers opportunities to meet with restaurant and wholesale buyers.
When: Saturday, February 25th, 2012, 8:30 am-5 pm Check in: 8-8:30 am
Where: Warren Wilson College: 701 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778
Cost: $30 per person or $45 for two farm partners before February 1st
$35 per person or $50 for two farm partners after February 1st
Conference registration includes your choice of workshops, meetings with restaurant and wholesale buyers, a locally sourced breakfast and lunch, and a comprehensive resource notebook.
Questions?: Call us at 828-236-1282.
The conference is now sold out.
Sign Up for the Waiting List
What happens at the conference?
Workshop descriptions are available here.
Conference Schedule
8-8:45 am: Sign-in and local food breakfast (Gladfelter Building - Canon Lounge)
Visit Exhibitor Displays and network
8:45-9:30 am: Welcome
9:45-11:15 am: Workshop Session 1
Strategies for Getting Visitors out to the Farm
Food Safety: Current Trends and GAP Certification
QuickBooks™ Basics for Farmers
Salesmanship
I Have a Website, Now What?
Sidewalk Sessions: Legal, Labor, and Regulatory
11:30 am-1:15 pm: Local Food Lunch
Networking and meeting opportunities with wholesale and restaurant buyers
Farm and garden tours at Warren Wilson
Visit exhibitor displays and network in Canon Lounge
1:30-3:00 pm: Workshop Session 2
Selling to Restaurants
Managing Labor on the Farm
Cost Planning on the Farm
Building Relationships with Wholesale Buyers
CSA Options and Opportunities
Sidewalk Sessoins: Marketing, QuickBooks™, Web, and Social Media
3-3:30 pm: Break (beverages and snack served in Jensen)
3:30-5 pm: Workshop Session 3
Reach the People: 30 Marketing Ideas for Direct Marketers
Hosting School Groups and Tours on Your Farm
Appalachian grown: The Power of Local Branding
Sell More: Improving Sales at Your Farmers Markets
Easy Ways to Get Started on the Web
5-5:30 pm: Optional networking with attendees and presenters in Jensen
Directions, Map, and Accommodations
Click here for directions and a map of Warren Wilson College, the conference location.
These are the closest hotel accommodations:
Most of Asheville is within 15-20 minutes of the conference site, and
Asheville has more than 6,000 hotel rooms. There is no need to restrict
yourself to these four choices.
The following establishments are within 30 minutes of Asheville. You'll find additional options in the B&B's/Farm Lodging section of ASAP's Local Food Guide.
Being 30 minutes from Asheville, some may be 40 minutes from the
conference site. Also note that some are rural and may be difficult to
access in inclement weather, so ask the farmer/innkeeper if you have
concerns about travel distances.
Who's making this all possible?
This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture,
USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21817.
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Farming Conference 
