1. Farmers’ Market Workshop
In Southeast Missouri
Aufdenberg, D.I.1
1. Donna I. Aufdenberg, Regional Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Marble Hill, MO, 63764, Bollinger County, aufdenbergd@missouri.edu
Abstract Objectives
In the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of small vegetable • To inform growers on organic or natural ways of building the soil and insect control.
growers that want to sell produce and value added products at Farmers’ Markets in • To educate Vendors and Growers about current grants and funding opportunities.
Southeast Missouri. There is a great need for educating these growers on vegetable and fruit
production, marketing, selling, and local rules and regulations. The Farmers’ Market • To encourage Farmers’ Market Vendors to certify scales with Weights and Measures, a
Workshop offered topics to beginner and experienced growers alike covering Health division of Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Department Regulations, Conventional and Biological Insect Control, Educational and Grant • To educate vendors on current food safety Regulation and Consumer Safety.
Funding Opportunities, Marketing at Farmers’ Markets, Building the Soil Organically, • To educate vendors on marketing techniques and encourage creativity.
Certifying Scales and Growing Specialty Crops in a day long program split into 45 minute
sessions. Participants networked with other growers and extension professionals as well as
gained knowledge of valuable resources. The Farmers’ Market Workshop attracted
participants from a 10 county area with a total of 69 attendees representing 6 area markets.
Impacts
Participants rated the value of the topics covered in the Farmers’ Market Workshop at 4.66 on
• 69 participants from 10 counties represented 6 local Farmers’ Markets.
a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most effective. The overall rating for the workshop was 4.71.
• 100% of participants who returned the survey indicated that the Farmers’ Market
Workshop was a worthwhile use of their time.
• Of Farmers’ Market vendors who attended the program, 70% indicated they were likely to
Workshop Information make changes in the next season based on what they learned at the workshop.
• 43% of participants indicated they would make changes in insect control and/or soil
The Farmers’ Market Workshop was conducted on January 31, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 management practices.
p.m. It was held in Fredericktown, Missouri. During the workshop, there were seven topics • 36% of participants indicated they would be reviewing their business plan and making
that were presented by instructors lasting 45 minutes each. The topics included: changes to their marketing strategies.
• 40% of Farmers’ Market Vendors certified their scales.
• Certifying Farmers’ Market Scales
• Health department regulations Improvements Planned By Participants
To Market Operations
• Building the Soil Organically
45
• Educational and Grant Funding Opportunities 40
40%
Percent of Participants*
Soil Improvement
36%
• Marketing at Farmers’ Markets 35
Insect Control
30
• Conventional and Biological Insect Control 26%
25 23%
Business Skills
• Growing Specialty Crops
Marketing
20
15%
15
Crops
Try Specialty
11%
10
Evaluation of the program was done by surveying participants who attended the workshop.
Safety
Food
5
Forty-seven out of 69 surveys were returned.
Areas of Planned Improvement
*Some participants indicated more than one area of planned improvement.
Katie Kammler, Plant Science Specialist with A participant’s booth at the Farmers’ Market in A participant’s booth at the Farmers’ Market in
University of Missouri Extension, teaching about Farmington, MO selling vegetables. Marble Hill, MO selling flowers and bedding
Specialty Crops during the workshop. plants.