Web series will help farmers reach new markets
February 19, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Farmers interested in reaching new local food markets but are unable to attend a daylong workshop can get the same information through an online series.
Roy Ballard, Hancock County Extension educator, said the program, "MarketReady Indiana - Scaling up Your Production and Marketing of Farm Products," is designed to help food suppliers succeed and stay profitable in a changing marketplace.
"This program will offer some basic insight into what buyers for wholesale, institutions, grocery stores and restaurants will demand," Ballard said. "These are very different requirements than traditional direct-market consumers might have."
Ballard said "scaling up" is a term used to describe tools and techniques needed to grow farm businesses so they can reach new markets with increased capacity.
Participants will learn from experts about expectations of food services, modern food marketing practices, how to produce foods for sale in alternative markets and how to access resources to improve sales.
The Web-based workshop series will be offered March 11, 18 and 25. Purdue Extension offices across Indiana will host the sessions.
Participants can view the sessions at a host location and network with other farms, or they can access the sessions from a remote location with a provided URL.
Host locations and contacts are:
* Hancock County, 802 N Apple St., Greenfield. Contact: Ballard, 317-462-1113.
* Jefferson County, 315 Jefferson St., Madison. Contact: Lonnie Mason, 812-265-8919.
* Kosciusko County, 202 W. Main St., Warsaw. Contact: Kelly Heckaman, 574-372-2340.
* LaPorte County, 2857 W. state Route 2, Suite A, LaPorte. Contact: Mary Foell, 219-324-9407.
* Switzerland County, 708 W Seminary St., Vevay. Contact: Kyle Weaver, 812-427-3152.
* Vanderburgh County, 13301 Darmstadt Road, Evansville. Contact: Larry Caplan, 812-435-5287.
* Vermillion County, 225 S Main St., Newport. Contact: Phil Cox, 765-492-5335.
All sessions are 6:30-9 p.m. Eastern time, with the exception of those in LaPorte and Vanderburgh counties, which will be 5:30-8 p.m. Central time.
The program is $30 per person, or $30 for the first person and $15 for each additional person from the same farm. Checks should be made payable to "Purdue CES Ed Fund."
To register, contact your local Extension office or the closest host site. Registration is preferred by March 4. Questions about the program should be directed to Ballard at 317-462-1113.
Writer: Amanda Gee, 765-494-8402, agee@purdue.edu
Source: Roy Ballard, 317-462-1113, rballard@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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