UT Workshops to Help Farmers Market Managers
Tips to Make Your Market Thrive
SPRING HILL, Tenn. – November 28 and November 29 are the days farmers market managers and civic officials should plan to attend an educational workshop designed to increase awareness of their markets and how to develop a collaborative network among farmers markets.
Specialists from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board in southwestern New York State will present “Farmers Market Manager Training” two times – once each in Franklin and Knoxville.
The “Farmers Market Manager Training” workshops will present new information about communicating the impacts generated by a farmers market and the benefits gained by working together for the collective impact of all farmers markets. “Farmers markets provide many positive impacts and spillover benefits to local communities,” said Hal Pepper, a finanacial management specialist with the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture who is organizing the workshops. “Market managers who can communicate these benefits effectively to community and development leaders are more likely to position their market as a vital asset in the sustainable development toolbox of these leaders,” Pepper said.
Trends in local foods and processing and increasing awareness of a farmers market and its products through smart media strategies also will be discussed. This includes plans to attract media coverage of your market, dealing with the press if a crisis happens, ways to reach customers through social media and effective branding.
These workshops will be for farmers market managers, officers, board members and city/county officials with farmers market responsibilities. The workshops will be conducted in Franklin (November 28) and Knoxville (November 29) and will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end by 4:00 p.m. local time. Check-in and networking will be from 9 to 9:30 a.m.
There is a $40 registration fee for the workshop. Pre-registration is required by November 20 as space is limited. A meal will be provided. Information about the workshop is available on the Center for Profitable Agriculture’s website at https://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa. Register for the workshop now at https://tiny.utk.edu/fmmanager.
The “Farmers Market Manager Training” workshop was developed by the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture. Sponsors include the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, the Tennessee Association of Farmers Markets and Farm Credit Mid America.
The Center for Profitable Agriculture is a joint effort of University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.
Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. ag.tennessee.edu.