2008Marketing.htm

2008
Marketing Opportunities
for Farmers Conference

Saturday, February 23
Warren Wilson College
Swannanoa, NC
We still have space, register today!

Farmers who get to know the needs of local customers and buyers can thrive, given the right business and marketing skills.

Join the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP), local farmers, agriculture professionals, and marketing specialists for a day-long conference on marketing.

For serious farmers or those seriously interested in farming.

Join us to celebrate the 5th annual Marketing Conference.
This year you'll find:

1.5-hour sessions to allow time for questions and discussion
Schedule brief 1-1 meetings to get to know buyers
More of our popular farm business planning content
Six half-length workshops organized by Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, each exploring an area for farm diversification

Conference cost: $30 per person or $40 per two farm partners.
The price includes a continental breakfast and lunch of locally-grown food.
Scholarships available (call us at 828/236-1282).

How do I register?

What topics will be covered?

What is the conference schedule?

How do I get to Warren Wilson College, and where can I stay?

Who funds this conference to keep it so inexpensive?

TO REGISTER

As of today, we still have space left and the registration deadline has been extended. Please ignore registration deadlines shown on the form.

Use these links to open the registration form as Word document or PDF .

Print and mail to:
ASAP, Marketing Conference, 729 Haywood Rd., #3, Asheville, NC 28806

Or return by email.

The conference site has space for about 200 people and some years it has sold out. Preregister to guarantee a spot and a lunch.

Download a conference flyer to post (500k PDF)

WORKSHOP TOPICS

There are three 1.5-hour workshop programs during the day. At each session, you can choose one of five or six choices. A conference binder will give you materials for some of the workshops you miss. These are shortened descriptions -- more detailed speaker bios and descriptions will be available soon.

Full-Length Sessions

-Pay-Ahead Marketing Systems: Community Supported Agriculture and Subscription Sales NCA&T Marketing Specialist Theresa Nartea will share basics and best practices for operating this growing model for selling farm goods. Joining Theresa will be Eileen Droescher, who has just moved to North Carolina after owning a 400+ share CSA farm in Massacusetts.
-Selling Your Farm Products to Schools Kate Slattery and Molly Nicholie of ASAP will highlight the benefits and challenges of selling your farm goods to local K-12 school systems.
-Small Farms, Big Markets: Building the System to Link Local Growers with Supermarkets Anthony Flaccavento of Appalachian Sustainable Development in Abingdon, Virginia has worked for a decade to build a network of farmers and processing/marketing capacity to sell to supermarket chains. He will share ideas and techniques for how farms can work together to reach these markets.
-Success at Farmers' Tailgate Markets Long-time market vendors Chris Owen (goat cheese) and Jenifer Miller (flowers) join forces to outline display, pricing, and customer relations techniques. A great workshop for both market beginners and more experienced vendors, regardless of what you sell.
-Best Practices Selling Produce at Farmers' Market From variety selection to harvest tips to packaging and display, experienced market farmers will help the fruit and vegetable crowd boost their skill at growing formarket and market sales.
-Wholesaling to Local Markets: the Buyer's Perspective Buyers from grocery stores and a produce distributor will discuss the requirements for selling to these markets and answer your questions.
-Marketing Safe Food: Your Farm's Direct Advantage Concern and fear about food safety is at an all-time high. Diane Ducharme of NCSU Extension will guide you to resources for ensuring safety on your farm, and spark a conversation about how, as farms selling to local markets, you can promote the safety of your food as a selling point.
-"Grass-Roots Style!" Creative & Simple Techniques to Connect Your Farm Products to Customers No matter what your farm product is, the key to your financial success is customer recognition & appreciation for who you are and what you do. Theresa Nartea, NC A&T Cooperative Extension, will step you through the nuts & bolts process of creating or re-invigorating your farm's identity by creating some basic, effective marketing tools.
-Quickbooks for Farms Lara Worden of NCSU Cooperative Extension, Gaston County, will take attendees on an introductory tour of this recordkeeping software, and answer your questions about how Quickbooks can help your farm operation. There is not enough time to do significant software training in this format, but look for Lara to come back to the mountains with a follow-up training series later this year.
-Professionalism: Precursor to Profits Interested in selling to chefs or other local markets, but intimidated by the idea of having to be a salesperson? NCDA Marketing Specialist Kevin Hardison and Scott Adams of Hendersonville's Blackwater Grille will guide you through what chefs and customers are looking for when they meet with you.
-Marketing Planning for New Farms Highly-recommended trainer Tim Woods of the University of Kentucky will introduce market analysis and planning tools designed to assist in the development of market strategies and work plans for diversified farm enterprises. He will provide analysis of trends and strategies related to emerging market channels and an introduction to marketing innovations from around the South.
-Farm Business Planning A double-length session with 5th-generation farmer Brittany Whitmire of NC A&T Extension and ASAP's Peter Marks. Farm operational planning, financial planning, and planning for farm transition will be covered. Attorney Thomas Beckett will visit to discuss "choice of entity" (incorporation, etc.) and how it figures into farm transition plans.

Half Sessions on Farm Diversification Topics
-Marketing Native Plants For most nursery professionals growing the plants is the easy part. Identifying and developing your clients, writing an easy and inexpensive marketing plan, and making some sales can be the intimidating parts. Bill Jones is a marketing and sales professional with over 20 years experience and is here to share what works for small business and to answer your questions.
-Is the Past Part of Your Future? It Can be with Organic Heirloom Tomatoes! Growing and Marketing Orgainc Heirloom Tomatoes...plants, produce and seeds. Chip Hope has been doing this for the past 10 years in western NC and will share with you his insights and knowledge on what's hot and what's not.
-Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Money...the Finances of Berry Management Berries are an underdeveloped market item in Western North Carolina, with opportunities for retail, value-added, and wholesale outlets that vastly overwhelm the present limited production. Walter Harrill of Imladris Farm has presented a series of "how to grow" workshops - now come hear him present "how to profit from" information, discussing farm budgets, potential markets, and the role of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries on the sustainable family farm.
-Opportunities in Pastured Poultry Production The market for local, natural meat is wide open in WNC. Pastured Poultry is an enterprise that you can easily work into your existing farm operation. Come to this workshop to learn about considerations for production, profitability, and upcoming opportunities in the growing market for pastured poultry.
-From Arnica to Yarrow: The ABC's on Growing and Selling Medicinal Herbs There is a big effort underway to develop the natural products industry in WNC. This could translate into new opportunities for farmers in this region. This session will cover the basics to help you decide if medicinal herbs are right for your farm.
-Alternative Christmas Tree Options Current Fraser fir Christmas tree production will be reviewed including sustainable practices, production costs, and income potential. Market niches for small producers will be highlighted. Alternative products such as exotic species, organic trees, table top trees, and greenery products will also be presented. Consider ways that you can integrate this holiday product into your existing farm plan.

Lunch will include demonstration/learning sessions at Warren Wilson Farm and Garden and opportunities for farmers and buyers to meet.

8:00 AM - 8:40 AM - Sign-in and Breakfast (Cannon Lounge)
8:40 AM - 9:20 AM - Opening Comments
9:45 AM - 11:20 AM – Workshop Session 1

11:45– 1:15 PM Local Food Lunch
Demonstration sessions outdoors at Warren Wilson:
To be determined.
Visit displays and networking in Canon Lounge

1:30 PM - 3:05 PM Workshop Session 2
3:05 PM- 3:30 PM Break (beverages and snack served in Jensen)
3:30- 5:05 PM Workshop Session 3

DIRECTIONS, MAP, AND ACCOMODATIONS

Directions to and map of Warren Wilson College and conference location.

Most of Asheville is within 15-20 minutes of the conference site and includes more than 6000 hotel rooms, so there is no need to restrict yourself to these four choices.

The following establishments are those within 30 minutes of Asheville, from 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. Some are rural and may be hard to access in inclement weather, so ask the farmer/innkeeper if you have concerns about travel distances:

WANT TO BE A CONFERENCE SPONSOR?
If you would like to sponsor ASAP's 2008 Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Conference, contact ASAP to discuss your options. Your organization or business will receive publicity on conference materials.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.