Farmers and other producers looking to succeed in the wholesale marketplace are invited to an upcoming workshop.
The Michigan Land Use Institute’s Get Farming! program is partnering with MSU Extension, USDA, the NW Michigan Council of Governments and FamilyFarmed.org to offer “Wholesale Success” on Monday, February 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Center, 6686 S. Center Hwy, Traverse City.
This intensive seminar will cover topics of interest to producers seeking to enter or enhance their success in the wholesale marketplace. Much of the information will be useful at any scale of production or marketing.
The workshop will teach best practices in food safety, post-harvest handling, and packing produce. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with various buyers, and they also will receive a free copy of FamilyFarmed.org’s Wholesale Success Manual. The 312-page manual includes more than 100 crop profiles with crop-specific information on harvesting, cooling, storing, and packing according to industry standards.
“The manual helps growers to build the capacity to meet the burgeoning demand for locally/regionally grown fruits and vegetables more efficiently and profitably,” according to Jim Slama of FamilyFarmed.org.
Atina Diffley, co-editor of the Wholesale Success manual with Slama, is the trainer for the workshop. Diffley brings decades of experience as an organic farmer, consultant and author to the project.
For information or to register, contact Jim Sluyter, 231-889-0199 or email jimsluyter@mlui.org. Information and registration are available online at www.mlui.org/getfarming. The $10 registration fee includes the workshop, the Wholesale Success manual and lunch.
