When: November 11, 2009
Where: Lansing Center, Lansing, MI
Why: Network with buyers from stores looking for exciting new products. Learn from the expert's about launching or expanding your business through educational classes that prepare you for the road ahead in regulations, safety, production, marketing and distribution.
How: Registration is $60, which includes continental breakfast and walking lunch during Trade show. Click Here to Register Online. Digital copy of all the speakers’ presentation (to be delivered following conference) $15.
When: December 8, 2009 from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Where: Imperial Ballroom in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Last year's event drew more than 140 farmers and 13 companies to visit produce buyers, which included Superior Sales, Spartan Stores, Eastern Market Corporation, Sysco-Grand Rapids, Meijer, Michigan Department of Corrections, Orchard Markets, Kroger, Heeren Brothers, Testa Produce, Mike Pirrone Produce, and Whole Foods.
How: For more information, contact the MIFFS office at 517-432-0712 or miffs@msu.edu.
When: December 15, 2009 from 9-5pm
Where: Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI
Why: Come learn how to develop a marketing plan for your farm, add value with on-farm processing and sales, and add value by marketing as a differentiated product. It's a great opportunity to network with presenters and dairy producers.
How: Registration is $30 per person ($25 second participant from same farm) Lunch and snacks provided. To register or for additional information, contact Matt Haan at haan@msu.edu or 269-671-2360. Click on the event title above for flier.
When: November 16, 2009 from 3:00-4:00pm and December 3, 2009 from 5:00-6:00pm (CSA Distribution Included)
Where: Michigan State University Student Organic Farm, 3291 College Rd. Holt, MI 48842
Why: Join Outreach Coordinator, Adam Montri, for an informal tour of the fields, hoophouses, CSA distribution room, transplant greenhouse, and more with plenty of opportunities to ask questions about all parts of the Student Organic Farm.
How: There is no charge for these tours due to funding from the USDA Rick Management Agency: Please email Adam at admontri@msu.edu to register.
When: December 8-10, 2009
Where: Devos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI
Why: The GLXPO is the premire show for fruit and vegetable growers and farm marketers. Over 3,700 growers from 35 states and 9 Canadian provinces registered for last years EXPO.
Highlights include: Informative educational programs for fruit, vegetable and greenhouse growers, and for farm marketers-59 sessions and workshops over 3 days.
- Fruit and vegetable commodities
- Greenhousee production and marketing
- Farm marketing ideas and issues
- General topics of special interest to growers
Plus a trade which freatures more than 300 exhibitors convering 4 acres of exhibit space in one hall.
When: January 16, 2010
Where: Lakeview High School, Battle Creek, MI
Why: Join us for the 7th annual Michigan Family Farms Conference to discuss challenges and growth opportunities for small and limited resource family farms.
Come hear keynote speaker Corey Flournoy. Corey was the first ever non-rural, African-American National FFA President in 1994-95. Today, he is the co-founder of Creative Outreach Consulting whose mission is to help you and adults seek, discover and capitalize upon the creative elements of success within in order to make a positive contribution to our world.
Educational sessions include bioenergy for small farmers, organic and specialty crop production, high tech marketing, high tunnels, entrepreneurship, food safety, crop pollination, grass-based dairies, and much more!
How: Stay tuned for registration information. Click on the event title above to read up on past conferences.
When: January 30, 2010
Where: Grayling High School, Grayling, MI
Why: Workshops to date include permaculture, hydroponics, raising organic chickens, grass based dairy, integrating animals into your farm, storage and season extension, farm to school, Saskatoons, farm sized wind energy and much more. A lunch featuring local foods is included in the registration fee.
How: Registration form available early December. For more information, go to www.msue.msu.edu/antrim and click on the 2010 conference or call 231-533-8818.