NAFDMA Bus Tour

Yesterday started the NAFDMA Bus Tour. What is this? According to the NAFDMA website, NAFDMA’s bus tours are undoubtedly the best-kept secret in today’s world of high technology.

Usually around 50 folks are crammed onto a 300 square foot tour bus for three days touring around the convention state visiting agritourism operations and doing lots of networking with one another. Yesterday, we visited Manning Farms/Vidalia Valley, Pineola Farm, Lane Packing and then dinner at the Rock Ranch.

Today was a fun-filled day of traveling around Georgia as well. We started the day at the Dekalb Farmers’ Market, Cagle’s Dairy and Cagle’s Farm House, dinner at Wolf Mountain Winery and Chateau Elan Winery. Tomorrow we will finish the NAFDMA Convention Bus Tour with visits with Panorama Orchards, Mercier Orchards, R&A Orchards and Hillcrest Orchards.

The tours visit tourist destinations that highlight the culture and environment of the host regions. More important, participants visit the most outstanding farm markets in North America.

View more on the NAFDMA Blog.

Day 3: Blogging from NAFDMA (Participation Day)

It’s the time to “Get Social.”

That seemed to be main focus of many of the sessions I participated in today’s convention. Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, Podcasts, You Tube) to name a few of the social media avenues that many folks might have heard about.

The first “techy” sessions I listened to was on Best Practices in Website. It was an open session where the folks from AKL Maui ( a lavender farm in Maui, Hawaii) presented information about their farm website and store. Then the entire group discussed new ideas for website marketing.

Some of the ideas where:
Have a box on each page of a website that offers visitor to join your mailing list because these names will help you retain clientele.
Include a blog link off your website.
Try adding videos and podcasts to your site so customers can see and get a feeling of your business.
Include seasonal photos and update them often.
Stay in contact with customers all year (not just during season) through a blog or e-newsletter.
Have a language button that can translate your site into another language, for foreign visitors.
Surveys for your customers.
Map link to the farm or market.

The other session I really enjoyed was about Online and Social Media. If you’re a Missouri producer – you’ve heard me say it a million times already – “If you have a business today…you better be online.”

This session was an overview on how direct marketers can incorporate social media into their current marketing campaign. Because let’s face it – social and online media are based on traditional marketing principals.

Ask yourself these questions:
What’s my operation goal?
How can I fit this into my existing communicational goals?
Is there others I can partner with?
Who is the customer I am marketing to?

More and more folks are doing everything online. Yesterday, I posted about culinary tourists – those that are searching for a unique experience they can’t find anywhere else. Those are your customers. Do you know how they are finding information about your farm or farmers’ market? Are they searching online for a market or CSA near them, are they looking for customer reviews about your farm online, are they reading your farm blog and leaving comments…you bet they are!

Technology today can be a little overwhelming with buzz words like (Tweet, Add me as your friend on Facebook, blogging, You Tube Videos….and on and on), but take it slow if you are new to this lingo.

Remember – People are talking everyday about your farm and market. Do you know what they are saying online? Positive word of mouth advertisement is the most powerful marketing of all. By you getting social on the internet you will be able to take part in this new media outlet and stay ahead of the game.

Try creating your own farm or market blog on Blogger or Typepad to start with. Then create a Facebook account. You can always ask other for help as well. I work with many farms, who’s children or grandchildren have helped the farm business get updated into the internet age. Or contact myself or one of your county extension agents as well.

In the meantime- get online and see what others in direct marketing are doing online. You can gather some great starting points from learning from others.

Read more about the NAFDMA Convention events.

Day 2: Blogging from NAFDMA (Culinary Tourism)

Culinary Tourism…not a word used much across Missouri, but things are changing.

This was the discussion of today’s Education Day at NAFDMA. Culinary Tourism is the pursuit of unique and memorable culinary experiences of all kinds, often when traveling. These types of tourists are normally younger, better educated, highly affluent, visit museums and cultural sites and choose destinations for food and wine experiences. In simple terms: These are the people that want to put a face to their food.

Consumers today want to put a face to their food and what’s a better way to provide them with this need then to open up the farm or market for farm cooking demonstrations, pick your owns, or even progressive dinners.

Today’s “Foodie Tour” opened our eyes on the future possibilities of where the direct marketing industry is headed. We visited eight restaurants/stores around downtown Savannah today and learned about how the Savannah community is promoting culinary tourism to not only tourists, but to locals as well.

On the tour we visited:
Wright Square Cafe
Savannah Bee Company Honey House
Lady and Sons - Side note- I met Paula's Deen sons (Jamie and Bobby Deen) at the restaurant and had them sign a cookbook
Kitchens on the Square for cooking demonstrations
Mom & Nikki's Soul Food
Back in the Day Bakery
Leopold's Ice Cream
Polk's Fresh Market
The Distillery

Read more about the Foodie Tour at the NAFDMA Blog.

Day 1: Blogging from NAFDMA

The beauty of the south is something special (sweet tea, grits, pralines, seafood and that southern hospitality) you just can’t go wrong. Waking up this morning to a view of the Savannah River was an incredible sight, as I took part the first day of the NAFDMA Convention in Georgia.

(Photo: Convention participants at the trade show, courtesy of the NAFDMA Blog)

Familiar faces from Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Iowa are all around (some 400 + folks from around the nation and Canada are attending this week long convention).

Today was Innovation Day and participants started the day with an early morning breakfast cruise along the scenic Savannah River on the Savannah Riverboat Queen. Not a bad way to start off a morning…

Networking was the word of the day, as I talked with some of our “new” agritourism operators and met others from surrounding states. Most of the morning was spent discussing with producers marketing ideas such as blogging and e-commerce.

Later in the day started the Trade Show and voting for the NAFDMA Agritourism Awards.

For more information about the NAFDMA Convention head over to the NAFDMA Blog (Yes – that’s right. Everyone is blogging these days. All I can say is “bout time.”)

Savannah Here We Come

My fellow co-worker Sarah and I are headed south today for the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) Convention in Savannah, GA. NAFDMA is a trade association dedicated to nurturing the farm direct marketing industry. Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm-grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers’ markets, pick-your-own farms, consumer-supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever-growing innovations in direct producer-to-consumer agricultural marketing methods.

Each year, NAFDMA hosts the premier farm direct marketing convention in North America. The convention moves to a different region of North America each year. Members get the opportunity to see new markets and hear new marketing ideas in a professional, noncompetitive environment.

The convention includes a three-day Bus Tour, a day of full-day workshops, and a day of Conference concurrent sessions. It also includes a Trade Show.

I’ll be blogging from Georgia this week, so stay tuned!

Venture on Over to Kansas

The Kansas Rural Center announces the statewide Farmers’ Market Conference which is scheduled from 9 am to 4 pm on Monday, February 23 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library at 1515 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas.

(PHOTO: Parkville Farmers' Markets, July 2008)

Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, KRC’s Farmers’ Market Project Coordinator, said the “bigger and better” 2009 conference is titled "Growing Together" and is open to all involved with farmers’ markets whether as a producer, market manager, board member or interested citizen.

Charuth and Kevin Loth, of ShadowBrook Farm in Lincoln, Nebraska, are the conference’s featured speakers. The Loths operate a family-owned diversified vegetable farm incorporating cattle, dairy goats and flowers into the 34-acre, organic farm's rotation plan. The couple participates in three farmers' markets and the Nebraska Food Cooperative, as well as operating a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and on-farm market and dairy.

Steve Moris, Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Program Manager, will discuss the recent consolidation of food safety oversight to KDA and review the rules and regulations affecting farmers’ market products. Representatives from Kansas Department of Commerce, Rural Development will also present resources to help grow farmers’ markets and value-added businesses.

In addition, five afternoon breakout sessions will focus on topics including: cut flowers; launching or revitalizing your market; meat and dairy; marketing and display, and managers and boards.

Specific topics scheduled during the breakout sessions include: “Direct Marketing Opportunities for Meat Producers” by Jeff Adair, New Grass Bison Co.; “Know Your Customer: Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication” by Lane McConnell, Missouri Department of Agriculture; “Born to Bloom: What to Grow for Beautiful Bouquets” presented by Brian Henry and Jozie Schike, Earth Flowers; “Issues and Opportunities Roundtable and Grow Your Market Workshop” by Jerry Jost, KRC Grow Your Farmers Market Workshop Facilitator, and “Capturing Your Market Share” by Jill Elmers, Moon on the Meadow Farm.

Markets and vendors are encouraged to share their experiences in "Flew or Flopped" presentations during lunch and to bring examples of their promotional materials.

Registration to cover the conference materials, continental breakfast and lunch is $20 per person. Completed registration forms along with fees made payable to the Kansas Rural Center are due by Friday, February 13. Please mail to: Kansas Rural Center, PO Box 133, Whiting, Kansas 66552-0133.Conference schedule and registration information are available for download from the Kansas Rural Center website. Conference brochures are also linked to the calendar maintained by KCSAAC – the KSU-based Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops – on the Web at http://www.kansassustainableag.org/calendar.htm .

For additional information, contact Mercedes Taylor-Puckett at 785-840-6202 or mercedes.taylorpuckett@gmail.com

Food Safety Across Missouri

Food Safety is a growing concern to consumers. Consumers want to know where their food comes from, how it was harvested and how safe it really is. Luckily Missouri is home to more than 150 farmers’ markets scattered across the state that are up on the latest in food safety issues and concerns.Ensuring growers are well educated on food safety techniques is a must in Missouri, and we are assisting in providing our growers with the knowledge and handling techniques to ensure safety in our local food chain.

This past Tuesday I held the first Food Safety: From Field to Market Workshop in Columbia. The next food safety workshop will be held on Jan. 31 at the Ozark Electric Co-op in Mt. Vernon from 9:00 am to noon. This workshop is sponsored by nine southwest Missouri markets (the Webb City Farmers Market, the Carthage Farmers Market, the Fair Grove Farmers Market, the Southwest Farmers Market at Great Southern, the Ozark Square Farmers Market, the Aurora Farmers Market, the Nixa Area Farmers Market, the Wilson’s Creek Farmers Market, the C-Street Market & the Greater Polk County Farmers Market.)If you are interested in attending the southwest Missouri Food Safety Workshop call 417-673-5866 to register.

Topics to be covered:
• Importance of Food Safety – Update on Recent Outbreaks Associated with Fresh Produce
• State Regulations for Selling at Farmers Market
• Food Safety Concerns in the Field: Field preparation & planting,manure usage & crop cultural guidelines
• Irrigation Methods and Associated Issues
• Harvest and Post Harvest Safety

The last food safety workshop will be held in St. Peters, MO on Feb. 10 at the St. Charles County Extension Office.

Iowa Workshops Open to Missouri Producers

Tis the season of travel, travel, travel. We are in the “heat” of conference and workshop season. The Missouri Agritourism Conference and Annual Missouri Farmers’ Market Association Meeting convened this past weekend at Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark. This was the first year for the conference, but you wouldn’t have know it. We had more than 145 conference participants for the two day event – needless to say we were very excited to see the support for the industry!

(PHOTO: My little nephew Luke experiences Missouri blackberries from a visit with me to the Berry Patch in Bolivar this summer.)

Director of Agriculture Jon Hagler also attended the conference and gave the opening address on Friday morning and talked with many producers afterwards.

With all the happenings going on around our state, I want to be sure that our Missouri producers also know about the opportunities to travel a bit north to some events that Iowa will be having for farmers’ market producers as well.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and the Iowa Farmers Market Association are working together to bring the best possible information on fruit and vegetable production, food safety, and marketing to Midwest producers in a three day conference.

Find more online about the upcoming conference.

New Year...New Opportunities

A Look at Missouri Farmers' Markets by Lane McConnell on 1/2/09

Happy New Year!

Only 3 ½ months until our first Missouri market opens for the 2009 season. As winter rolls on here in Missouri there are many opportunities for farmers to take advantage of to learn new innovative growing techniques.

January and February are usually the busy time for conference and meetings around the state and this year is no exception.

Schedule of Events:
January 8-10 Great Plains Vegetable Growers Conference - St Joseph
January 13-15 Mid America Fruit Growers Conference – Columbia
January 16-17 Missouri Agritourism Conference and the Missouri Farmers’ Market Association Annual Meeting - Lake Ozark
January 20 Missouri Farmers’ Market Workshop on Food Safety - Columbia
January 27 Missouri Farmers’ Market Workshop on Salesmanship - Blue Springs
February 1-7 NAFDMA- Savannah, GA
February 10 Missouri Farmers’ Market Workshop on Food Safety - St. Peters
February 16-18 Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference - Springfield
February 21 Missouri Organic Association Conference - Jefferson City
March 6 Missouri Farmers’ Market Workshop on Growing for Market – Springfield

The Missouri Department of Agriculture will be represented at all these upcoming events. Hope to see you there.

Buying Local a Trend...Really?

I found it amusing when I read a news article that Brownfield released a couple weeks ago (yes, I’m a little behind on posting this on the blog, as the holiday season has put me a bit behind). The article was a release from American Farm Bureau on the Top 5 Food Trends for 2008 and big surprise - buying local topped the list. I’m sure many local food producers will agree – 2008 was a record sales year!

So, whether you are a consumer or producer of local foods – get out and show your localvore roots in 2009!

Below is an excerpt from the news article on the Brownfield Network.

The American Farm Bureau is out with their Top 5 food trends of 2008. The biggest trend this year was to local foods, in fact the new Oxford American Dictionary’s word of the year is “locavore”, a person who seeks out and consumes locally grown food. Celebrity chefs were very popular and very influential this year. Another big trend, higher food prices as energy prices rippled through the industry. Food safety and traceability became a big issue as we lived through recalls of beef, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes and jalapeno peppers. Also gaining popularity in 2008, food companies listening to consumers Butterball, Wegmans, Starbucks and others changed product offerings in response to consumer feedback.

Looking ahead to 2009, AFBF’s Foodie News says consumers will continue to want to know where their food comes from supporting a growing farm-to-cuisine movement. The economic downturn will also prompt more cooking, baking and eating at home while restaurants will experience more order-splitting among dining companions. Restaurants will also go more high-tech to entice customers. For example, a couple of California restaurants have touch screens where you can place your order and then play video games. American Pinot Blanc will become “the wine” and chefs will make buckwheat the next “hot grain”.

It’s all About Local

Brownfield’s Julie Harker interviewed Mary Hendrickson with MU Extension and the Food Circles Project for the final podcast in this series. Mary discusses the growing increase in local foods by consumers and what this means for the future of local foods.

Podcast: LISTEN here.

Best Small Business to Start: Manager, Online Farmers' Market

USNews.com had a great article today about new types of farmers’ markets – online markets.

Manager, Online Farmers' Market
Online farmers' markets cut out a chunk of fuel costs, plus the time it takes to set up and display locally grown produce. They've been popping up as a 24-7 alternative for "locavores" and customers looking for anything fresh, from grass-fed beef to freshly picked apples. Successes include mypersonalfarmers.com (Westchester County, N.Y.) and farmersmarketonline.com (central Idaho). Customers place orders online, and then these companies drive what's been ordered to the customers' houses.

The key is to maintain a product base while introducing new discoveries to keep customers coming back. Unlike many Internet-based jobs, this one involves a lot of face-to-face interaction and outside work. The hardest part of the job is keeping up with and juggling the many farmers who supply the business. They change throughout the season as different crops come to harvest at different times and often have full schedules that need to be worked around. The biggest costs are personnel to man the warehouse, for example, and rent for space.

What does it pay?
The idea of an online farmer's market is quite new, so it is difficult to find wage statistics. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for purchasing managers at farm product raw material wholesalers in May 2007 was $99,950.

What kind of background do you need?
The main requirements for those involved in managing online farmers' markets are some culinary knowledge and basic tech savvy. Licenses from your state department of agriculture are required, as is a basic knowledge of marketing and promotion.How do you get started?It takes about a season to survey a region and make connections with farmers and bakers. Once established, a company can differentiate itself with specialties. One online market might offer more varieties of honey and cheeses or different organic meats. To operate an online farmers' market, you need a couple of cars, a warehouse, a website, and an ever-changing list of farmers in the area. A big plus is that the driving covers a relatively small area, which keeps fuel costs relatively low compared with other produce businesses. Mypersonalfarmers.com's founder, Maryanne Hedricks, says, "Gas is not a make-or-break thing" for her business.

Learn to Keep your Agritourism Business Looking Bright at 2009 Conference

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) will host the 2009 Missouri Agritourism Conference, themed “The Future Looks Bright”, on Jan 16-17, 2009 at Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Mo. The conference will be a two-day learning experience for those who are looking to enter the agritourism industry, are agritourism operators or are extension agents.

The conference is sponsored cooperatively by MDA, AgriMissouri and the Missouri Farmers’ Market Association.Conference participants will hear on topics including: Identify Your Potential and Business Planning, How to Conduct School Tours, Running a Retail Shop on Your Farm, Romancing the Media, Bragging Rights: Successful Missouri Agritourism Operations, How to Use Social and Online Media to Brand Yourself, Adding Haunted Attractions: The Pros & Cons, Food Safety and much more.

The Missouri Farmers’ Market Association will hold their annual membership meeting in conjunction with the conference on Jan. 17. Farmers’ market masters and market vendors are encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about growing heirloom tomatoes, gain salesmanship skills, innovative marketing ideas and hear the 2008 successes of markets and vendors across the state.

Farmers’ market participants need to register with Missouri Farmers’ Market Association Secretary Eileen Nichols at eileennichols@sbcglobal.net. For more information about the conference program, contact Sarah Gehring or Lane McConnell at (573) 751-4339 or via email Sarah.Gehring@mda.mo.gov or Lane.McConnell@mda.mo.gov .

Developing Missouri Agritourism

People interested in developing tourism and promoting local food products will meet Dec. 9 in Hermann to develop plans and identify marketing opportunities in six Missouri counties.

Through its Missouri Regional Cuisines Project, University of Missouri Extension is working with producers and community leaders in the counties that make up the Missouri River Valley region: Montgomery, Gasconade, Warren, Franklin, St. Charles and St. Louis.

The meeting is a follow-up to an Oct. 27 meeting in New Haven. “At that meeting we covered project concepts, but now we are looking for specific input to set objectives and identify marketing opportunities for the region,” said Elizabeth Barham, project director and MU assistant professor.

The meeting agenda includes discussion of a fundraising initiative planned for February or March to support regional coordination, she said.Winery operators, food and agricultural producers, restaurant operators, bed and breakfast owners, craftspeople, artists, economic and tourism professionals, and elected officials are invited to the meeting from 2 to 5 p.m. at Hermann Hill Village, 165 Highway 100 East. A regional wine and food tasting is scheduled following the meeting.

“Marketing wine and food products using distinct labels of origin based on the region’s ecological features allows the consumer to distinguish among the unique tastes and attributes of products from different areas,” Barham said. “This identification of Missouri’s products will mean greater recognition and economic opportunities for our state’s food producers, tourism industry and rural communities.”The meeting and product tasting are free, but RSVPs are requested.

To RSVP or receive more information, contact James Vittetau at 800-769-4183 or james@visitjeffersoncity.com. For more information about the Missouri Regional Cuisines Project check out the website.

Keep in Touch with Missouri Farmers’ Markets and Local Products All Year Long

Although Missouri farmers’ markets across the state are taking a break after this upcoming weekend, Gov. Matt Blunt and the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) are reminding consumers to visit their markets on or before Saturday to taste the many great fall products that Missouri farmers offer. Consumers will also be able to learn more about Missouri products all year long through MDA web links and retailers throughout the state.

(PHOTO: From Weston Red Barn, Weston, Mo.)

“Farmers’ markets are just one of the many ways Missourians can enjoy locally grown and produced products,” said. Gov. Matt Blunt. “I encourage Missourians to take advantage of the abundant food and local products Missouri farm families are producing at their local farmers' market.”

“Most farmers’ markets across the state will be having their final sales of the season on Saturday, but consumers can continue to find many great Missouri products in grocery stores and supermarkets or check out the listings of locally-grown through our AgriMissouri program,” said Don Steen, director of MDA. “Missouri farmers’ markets continue to offer local, fresh foods for consumers while many retail facilities across the state also provide choices in locally-grown Missouri products.”

Consumers will have the chance during this off-season to learn more about their favorite farmers’ market vendors by visiting this blog and listening to the numerous podcasts – a digital recording of a radio broadcast – featuring Missouri farmers and producers. This month’s podcast features Robert Long, co-owner of Flintrock Bison Ranch in Halltown, Mo. Long sells their ranch’s bison meat at his local farmers’ market. New podcasts are featured twice monthly and feature a variety of topics related to Missouri’s 140 farmers’ markets.

“The new farmers’ market podcasts offer many opportunities to learn about markets and the farmers across the state that produce high-quality local produce, as well as other food products,” said Lane McConnell, marketing specialist with MDA. “Our Missouri markets provide the availability of fresh, affordable and healthy foods to communities, while enhancing the local economies. The podcasts will give consumers an inside look at how local food is grown and harvested and provide valuable information about what our Missouri markets offer visitors."

Another great place to keep up with all that Missouri has to offer during this season is the Department of Agriculture’s AgriMissouri Showcase located at http://www.agrimissourishowcase.com/. This site also offers podcasting and videos about various Missouri products offered in various retail locations.

“As we move into the fall season, many people begin to think about those holiday gifts that might be great for their loved ones. AgriMissouri offers many great products that are perfect for holiday gifts for everyone,” said Sarah Gehring, member services coordinator with AgriMissouri – a program that provides marketing assistance and opportunities to Missouri food manufactures, farmers, producers, agritourism businesses and farmers’ markets. “You can’t go wrong with giving a Missouri-made product including jams and jellies, homemade soaps and candles or a bottle of Missouri wine.”

Producing Award-winning Goat Cheese

An eastern Missouri couple takes careful steps in producing their award-winning goat cheese. And this is the first year that Veronica and Steve Baetje have been selling their cheeses at farmer’s markets. Veronica tells Julie Harker about raising goats, producing cheese and the rewards of selling their products face-to-face to their customers.

Podcast 8: LISTEN HERE

Twice a day, seven days a week, the Baetjes get about a gallon of milk from each of the 43 adult females in their herd. The milk, drawn by a vacuum pump and sent to large stainless-steel cans, is carried one room away. There it is passed through a filter into another, larger collector can that chills the milk to less than 40 degrees - the first step in producing the four cheeses sold under the Baetje (pronounced BAY-gee) Farms label at the Soulard, Clayton and Kirkwood farmers' markets and to restaurants, gourmet food stores and wineries in St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve.

6th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast

Celebrating fall harvest season has never been more fun.

Missouri’s agricultural specialty products will be front and center at the sixth annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, Saturday, Oct. 18, at the University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center in New Franklin, Mo.

The roast, sponsored by the MU Center for Agroforestry and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, features fall family fun with chestnuts as the main ingredient. Activities include samples of fire-roasted, Missouri-grown chestnuts, live bluegrass and Caribbean/Spanish guitar music, displays and sales of Missouri specialty agricultural products, farm tours and cooking demonstrations with chestnuts.

The Center for Agroforestry supports the nation’s most comprehensive research program for developing the Chinese chestnut as a nut crop to bring the chestnut back to the nation’s dinner (and dessert) plates. Mike Gold, UMCA associate director, explains that the American chestnut was almost wiped out in the early 20th century due to blight. However, closely related Chinese chestnuts grow well in Missouri soil and are increasingly in demand as gourmet restaurants and food stores discover their versatility.

Activities begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m. The Ironweed Bluegrass Band and Eco Gitano, a group specializing in a blend of Caribbean and Spanish guitar, will provide musical entertainment. The New Franklin High School Athletic Booster Club will operate a concessions stand offering grilled elk, buffalo and beef products for sale.

Craig Cyr, executive chef of The Wine Cellar and Bistro in Columbia, and Eric Cartwright, executive chef at MU Campus Dining Services-Plaza 900, will prepare recipes that incorporate chestnuts and local foods during cooking demonstrations. Attendees can watch the creation of and taste these one-of-a-kind chestnut creations.

Vendors will feature a variety of locally grown agricultural specialty products including chestnut, pecan and walnut products; wines and specialty beers; ice cream; mustard; goat cheeses; tomato products; meat products; and elderberry products.

The Missouri Chestnut Roast is a kid-friendly event. Children will have plenty to keep them busy, including a live bat presentation by the U.S. Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, at 12:45 p.m.; Missouri Chestnut Roast Fact Hunt; and a straw bale maze.

The Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center is the site of the 1819 Thomas Hickman house, one of the state’s oldest intact brick houses, which is currently undergoing an historic rehabilitation. Tours will be available throughout the day.

There will be guided bus and walking tours of the research center for those interested in learning more about agroforestry practices.

The event wraps up National Chestnut Week, which runs Oct. 12-18.

Admission to the Missouri Chestnut Roast is free. Most activities will take place under tents for comfort rain or shine. Service animals are permitted at the roast, but pets are not allowed.
For directions and a schedule of the day’s events check out the website or contact Julie Rhoads at 573-882-3234 or rhoadsj@missouri.edu.

Agri-Tourism In Missouri

Working at the MDA keeps me on my toes. No day is typical – nor would I want it to be. I talk to many producers on the phone everyday and I enjoy hearing how they have become blog readers because of this blog. Many producers check the blog to see where my last trip was, maybe to an orchard, a farmers’ market, to a trade show, or maybe a presentation to a community.

(PHOTO: Kirksville Chamber of Commerce Office at presentation.)

Yesterday, the job took me to Kirksville for a presentation about Agri-Tourism in Missouri. I spoke with a very diverse group that included a MU extension agent, Agri-tourism producers, Truman State University professors, members of the Kirksville Chamber of Commerce, State Representative, farmers’ market representatives and some folks that were on the local tourism board.

The group was looking for education of exactly what Agri-Tourism is, how to get started, what to expect and what the future holds for this industry. During the presentation, the group posed some great questions and we ended the day with a great discussion.

If your community or organization would like more information about developing Agri-Tourism in your local area contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture and ask for myself or Sarah Gehring at 573-751-4339. The MDA will be holding a Missouri Agri-Tourism Conference in January 2009...check the blog and the AgriMissouri site for upcoming information.

Growing Communities One Market at a Time

Farmers’ markets mean something different to everyone. For consumers, these markets represent a virtual guarantee of freshness not found in supermarkets and for farmers, the markets have come to represent the ultimate cooperative where they work together, set their own prices and sell directly to the consumer. Often what you find when purchasing supermarket products is that the majority of your dollars spent goes into shipping and production costs of produce. At your local farmers’ market, you are buying directly from the farmers; therefore, what you see is what you get.

Communities are seeing the economic impact of establishing a local farmers’ market and how markets can retain money in their home communities. For every dollar spent at a local farmers’ market, that dollar turns over 5 times into the community. There has been a record 19 percent increase in the number of farmers’ markets in Missouri over the past 5 years- Missouri currently has 148 markets.

The experience of shopping at a market is one of vibrant community spirit, where neighbors come together to explore and celebrate our state’s diverse agricultural bounty. Although fall is upon us, markets across the state are still open for business. Consumers can expect to find Indian corn, pumpkins, fall squash, apples, melons, grapes, sweet potatoes and lots of mums!

I found this video on You Tube the other day and thought is was worth posting on the blog. The video talks about the importance of local farmers’ markets in small rural communities.

Watch the Video:

Farmers’ Markets: Growing communities one market at a time.

Grow Your Farm Series Offers Critical Information

The Grow Your Farm Series that begins on Tuesday evening, September 30th in Macon will offer critical information to producers interested in improving their farming operation. The class runs every week until December and the deadline to enroll is coming up on September 26th. There is a fee which includes materials, light meals, and a couple of farm tours. The Grow Your Farm series is a University of Missouri Extension program and will be held at the Macon Extension Center which is located on 514 East Briggs Street, Suite D.

“This program is designed to assist those landowners and producers whom are interested in looking at their operation in a new and unique way” says Joe Koenen, Agricultural Business Specialist who is one of the instructors of the program. “It takes a thorough look at your farm from a sustainable business perspective and includes farmer speakers and farm tours also”. Topics will include setting farm and family goals, walking the farm to determine strengths and challenges, assessing the opportunities the land has, taking charge of your farm finances, marketing issues and challenges, legal concerns and developing and sharing a business plan. “This is a substantial time commitment but what you get from this program will be substantial as well” according to Joe.

A minimum number is required for the class to be held. Contact the Putnam County Extension Office at (660) 947-2705 or koenenj@missouri.edu for more information. University of Missouri Extension programs are open to all.