PRESS RELEASE: Farm to Market Connection, March 21
Farmer-to-business conference to be held at CVI Building, Liberty. Event sponsored by Watershed Agricultural Council, Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship with support from NYC DEP, Gerry Foundation, NYFVI, Sullivan Renaissance.
WALTON, NY - Producers, processors and purchasers of local food are invited to the Farm to Market Connection March 21st from 9 am to 5 pm at the CVI Building at One Cablevision Center in Liberty, NY.  Organized by the Pure Catskills Buy Local Campaign and the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship, the event will serve as both an educational and networking opportunity for key players in local food across our region.  The day will include panel discussions featuring farmers and business people from across New York State, workshops related to direct-sales marketing of farm products, a lunch of local food and an afternoon tradeshow for farmers and buyers.

Planned workshops will address developing high-quality local farm and food products, working with restaurant buyers, marketing meat through Community Supported Agriculture, working with commercial kitchens and enhancing regional distribution infrastructure.  Each workshop will feature local farmers, regional buyers and agricultural educators.

Full conference details are available at purecatskills.com.  The fee to register is $25 before March 15th.  For more information or to register, visit purecatskills.com or contact Challey Comer at [email protected] or (607) 865-7090.
 
Schedule for the Day:
9 to 9:30 am - Registration
9:30 to 10:30 am - Producers' Panel
10:30 to 10:50 am - Q & A with Producers
10:50 to 11 am - Coffee Break and Set Up for Second Panel
11 am to 12 pm - Buyers' Panel
12 to 12:20 pm - Q & A with Buyers
12:30 to 1:30 pm - Lunch with Keynote Address
1:30 to 2:30 pm - First Group of Breakout Sessions
2:30 to 3:30 pm - Second Group of Breakout Sessions
3:30 to 5:00 pm - Trade Show and Reception

Additional support for this event has been provided by the New York State Farm Viability Institute, the Gerry Foundation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Pure Catskills is an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council.  The purpose of WAC is to protect both the rural, land-based economy of the watershed region and the drinking water quality of over nine million people. Working with farmers, agribusinesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship. It also champions the use of conservation easements as an option to keep land within a working landscape context. The Council works through partnerships with other nonprofits organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to achieve its purpose.

The WAC is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service, and other federal and foundation sources. The WAC is an equal opportunity employer and provider. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.
# # # # #
 
 
Your privacy is important to us; therefore, we will not sell, rent, or give your name or email address to anyone. And, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the link at the bottom of any WAC eBurst.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
START DATE: Mar. 1, 2010
END DATE: Mar. 20, 2010

SUMMARY: Farmers looking for insight on producer-buyer relationships are invited to register for the Farm to Market Connection. Two morning panels, six afternoon sessions and a local foods luncheon round out the event.

RELEASE CONTACT:
WAC Farm to Market Manager & Conference Registration
(607) 865-7090 x217
 
Nicole Day
CADE & Exhibitor Registration
(845) 586-1154
LINKS OF INTEREST
WAC CONTACT:
Tara Collins
Communications Director
(607) 865-7090 x226
(607) 643-5148 cell
The Watershed Agricultural Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City Watershed region. The WAC is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and other federal, foundation and private sources. The WAC is an Equal Opportunity Providers and Employers.