February HHC Newsletter
Meeting Reminder
Updates and News Sharing
In This Issue
Meeting Agenda
Farmers Market Updates
Web Site
Facebook
Quick Links
 

 
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February 23, 2014


The new leadership of Hoosier Harvest Council has been working on defining the vision and mission of the organization so that it will be a valuable organization for our members. The below terms have come up at a couple of meetings.
  • Networking - sharing of ideas at meetings and beyond. Helping to increase the success of each of our members.
  • Marketing - Increasing opportunities for success.
  • Legislative - Pro-active, not reactionary. Helping to remove road blocks.
We are striving to make our meetings educational that you can find value in attending.  We also want to share information about your business/farm/farmers market to make you more successful and profitable.  Our next meeting is on Monday, March 3, 2014 at 7 pm.  Location: Purdue Extension office, 802 N Apple Street, Greenfield. Hope to see you there.

We have already been using our new Hoosier Harvest Council Facebook page to share information that our members are doing and specials that they are having.  Please share news with Barb Smith so that she can make sure to get your information promoted.  See more info below-click on link on the left.

We are planning to leave all members who were current last year, up on our web site until May. We know that several members did not get a full year of benefit from their membership last year as the web site was being developed. We are still collecting membership dues and hope that you will see the benefit in retaining your membership.
For membership application, click here.  Send your payment to Hoosier Harvest Council c/o Purdue Extension-Hancock County, 802 N Apple St. Greenfield, IN 46140 - or bring to next meeting.

Farmers Markets - we want to help make your market successful.  Please share your vendor meetings so we can pass it on to other producers. See more info below-click on link on the left.
 
In the news: We are working on increasing the awareness of local foods and agritourism.  We will share legislative bills that will agriculture and local foods.  See more info below.
 
Please take the time to read this newsletter and share ideas with us.  This organization is striving for the success of all family farms.

 

March 3, 2014 Meeting
repotting-flowers.jpg Meeting Agenda 
  • Approve January Minutes
  • Approve Treasurer Report
  • Farmers Market Reports
    • Call out meetings
    • Upcoming Training and Networking opportunities
  • Facebook Training - Marketing
    • Chris Baggott of Tyner Pond Farms to present
    • Q&A period following presentation
  • Farm Tours - need feedback/interest
  • Other news - Logo/Web-site/next meeting
 
Farmers Markets
Farmers Market Preparing for 2014 Season

 

With this cold snowy winter, who isn't ready for spring and the upcoming market season. Although there are a few winter markets I know everyone thinks of summer for the market season. I know several members have started plants and some of the market organizers are already planning their season.

The Indiana Farm Market Association and My Local Indiana are having a Spring Tour and Networking Day for Agritourism and Farm Market Professionals. This will be held on Friday, March 14 from 10 am-3:30. You MUST RSVP on the Facebook Event Page (click link above) or to Ruth Ann Roney at [email protected] by Monday, March 10th.
 
Farmers Market Boot Camps - April 2, 10, 18 & 24 will be held at the Indiana Farm Bureau Building in Indianapolis. Flyers will be available at our meeting or can be emailed to you. These are very helpful meetings that include updated rules and regulations from the Health Department, InnovativeMarketing Techniques, Updated Producer Rules and Farmers' Market Grant Funding.

 

Market News: (not all are current members)  
Market masters feel free to share information for us to pass along.  Will update information as I get it.
 
Farmers Market at the Fairgrounds - year-round market, planning Vendor meeting sometime in March.

Greenfield Downtown Farmers Market - new market master, Chandra Chaves. Opening May 17th for the season.

Fortville Farmers Market - should have vendor meeting information by our meeting.

Cumberland Farmers Market - usually have vendor meeting in April

Irvington Farmers Market - no vendor meeting - usually send out applications to past vendors.

Heart of Rushville Farmers and Artisians Market - will let me know when they are having meeting

Henry County Farmers Market - planning vendor meeting in April

Anderson City Market - Vendor meeting March 27th


Southport Farmers Market - having vendor meeting March 3rd at 7 pm.

 

Web-Site
camera.jpg Updates needed
 
It is important that our web-site be up-to-date. Over the next couple of months Barb Smith will be working on updating pages and adding new members.  Please submit any information you would like to have included on your page as well as pictures.

Our next meeting may be a review of our web-site and what all we can do with it.  

Producer pages - can include product lists, pictures, tell us your growing practices, etc. Let me know if you have a facebook page or web-site.  Review phone numbers to make sure what we have listed is correct.

Farmers Market Pages - we can include your rules, Faceook page information, list of vendors, types of products, etc.

Businesses/Sponsors - contact information, etc.
 
Buy Fresh Buy Local - Logo
BFBL 2013 HHC logo Status
 
We have yet to receive an invoice for Buy Fresh Buy Local membership.  Nothing new has been posted on the networking site.


Our current plan is not to renew membership, so that will negate a need for a new logo.  We may do a contest to come up with a new logo or work on the logo that was put on our website to make it what we want to represent. Feedback is appreciated.
 
Farm Tours
Vaughan Buffalo Farm Family
Vaughan Buffalo Farm
Are you interested?
 
If we don't have interested farms coming forward at our March meeting, we may have to wait until next year to make plans for tours. We are always willing to promote events on your farms, but a designated farm tour promotion takes a committee of individuals willing to work together and plan a successful event.

Please email back if you are willing to host and/or participate in a farm tour event.
Facebook Page
laptop-couple.jpg Hoosier Harvest Council
Like us on Facebook 
 We are trying to build our Facebook audience - Please like our page and share it with your friends.  We will also be doing some ads and boosting posts. We do not have access to the old Hancock Harvest Council page - it would be nice if we could post on it to guide people to our new page. 
Comments and suggestions on improving our organization are welcome.
 
Sincerely,
 
Barb Smith, Secretary