10/28/2009

Farmers' Markets: Meet the Needs of Consumers with a Sharing Best Practices Workshop

Writer:

Joy Bauman
bauman.67@osu.edu
(740) 289-2071

REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio -- With the increased interest by consumers for locally produced foods, the number of farmers’ markets continues to rise. In an effort to assist Ohio markets to meet the growing needs of the local food consumers, Ohio State University South Centers and the Ohio Department of Agriculture are offering a Sharing Best Practices workshop.

The workshop will be held November 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ohio Department of Agriculture Bromfield Building, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

The Sharing Best Practices workshop will provide an opportunity for managers and vendors to learn the tools and techniques that have proven successful in growing farmers’ markets. The workshop will focus on sharing best practices in the three main areas of business: management, marketing, and financing. Participants will learn from successful managers and vendors about the various methods used to attract consumers to the market, attract vendors/producers to the market, and low-cost and no-cost methods of marketing. They will also learn about various management strategies and practices that lead to the sustainable growth of markets.

The workshop is $25 per participant or $20 per participant for members of the Farmers’ Market Management Network, Inc. To register, contact Melissa Hurtt at hurtt.8@osu.edu or (740) 289-2071, ext. 222. For more information about the Farmers’ Market Management Network visit http://www.fmmn.org or contact Christie Welch at welch.183@osu.edu or (740) 289-2071, ext. 234. For a complete list of the upcoming training programs for Ohio farmers’ markets visit http://www.ohiofarmersmarkets.osu.edu.