Farmers Market Conference Nov. 15-17

The Farmers' Market Federation of New York will have its annual Farmers Market Managers Training Conference, “Building Capacity of Markets,” Nov. 15 to 17 at the Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, Cattaraugus County.

The conference will focus on helping farmers markets build their capacity to grow and succeed for the benefit of their farmers, consumers and host community. 

Keynote speaker, Kim LaMendola, Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development, will discuss the benefits that farmers markets bring to a community and help market managers understand the language needed to convey this critical message to government leaders.

An evening banquet features Tom Rivers, author of "Farm Hands: Hard work and hard lessons from the Western New York Fields." Rivers' talk is sure to enlighten and entertain.

Each session of the conference builds on the overall theme of building the capacity of farmers markets to grow and succeed,  improve attendees ability to manage their market, advance their market’s potential for long-term sustainability and promote a marketplace that achieves a mission of supporting local farmers. 

Participating market managers are also taught the importance of providing a venue for consumers to purchase locally grown nutritious foods, and serving as responsible community partners.

The conference will feature a series of break-out sessions for emerging markets, focusing on helping them to bring their markets up to the next level of success. Other breakouts will focus on experienced managers, talking about more advanced concepts such as best practices in SNAP programs at farmers markets. 

The conference also will feature daily tours to farms, a food hub and a local brew pub.

Another new feature of the 2016 Farmers Market Managers Conference is a scholarship program to encourage market managers across New York State to take advantage of the lessons and networking that happens at the conference. 

To access the conference scholarship application, go to http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/overview.  But hurry, deadline for scholarship applications is Sep. 26.

The full conference program, agenda and hotel information can be found at http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/overview.   

For more information, contact the Farmers Market Federation of NY at deggert@nyfarmersmarket.com or call (315) 400-1447.