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Title	Description
Destination Agriculture: Bringing Shoppers Onto the Farm Crystie Kisler, Finnriver Farm Bill Wavrin, Ferndale Farmstead Creamery Addie Candib, Cloud Mountain Farm Erin Buckwalter, Moderator Thursday 1:30-2:45pm	Three different types of farms describe how they invite the public onto their farm, how they relate to farmers markets, and why it's so important to make the connection not just between producer and consumer, but between the consumer and the land itself.
Giving Chefs What They Want Cheryl Thornton, Cloud Mountain Farm Center Bruno Feldeisen, Chef, Semiahmoo Resort Fred Berman, FSB Consulting Andy Nguyen, Chef, Drizzle Sara Southerland, Moderator Thursday 1:30-2:45pm	Learn about boosting direct sales capacity for farms by attracting chefs and restaurants to the market and directly to the farm.
Come Early, Stay Late: Season Extension Strategies for Market Produce Growers Jesse Hopkins & John Gunning, Colinwood Farm Clayton Burrows, Growing Washington Thursday 2:55-4:10pm	Two of Washington State's most innovative market farmers discuss how they use greenhouses and succession planting to maintain the best variety of produce for market no matter what time of year. Zucchini in April? Raspberries in February? Lettuce year round? They do it and will discuss how and why and how grateful customers are for their off-season efforts.
Farm Tours and Food Loops Aba Kaiser, WSU Jefferson County Sara Southerland, Sustainable Connections Allison Colthorp, Tourism Chilliwack Crystie Kisler, Finnriver Farm Patrice Barrentine, King County Agriculture Program & Savor Washington Erin Buckwalter, Moderator Thursday 2:55-4:10pm	How to create partnerships to promote farm and market tourism. Learn best practices for promoting organized and self-guided Culinary Loops, Food Trails, and Farm Tours.
State of Tree Fruit in Washington Jon DeVaney, President, WA State Tree Fruit Association Friday 9:15-10:30am	Join us for an overview of the Washington tree fruit industry, including industry trends you can tap into to better market your farm's tree fruit.
WIC & Senior FMNP Training for Market Managers and Growers Katherine Flores, DOH FMNP Program Lead Friday 9:15-10:30am	The Farmers Market Nutrition Program can increases sales and brings new shoppers to the market. Market managers and growers will learn everything they need to know about accepting WIC & Senior FMNP checks.
Building the Washington State Farmers Market Integrity Project Colleen Donovan Friday 10:45am-12:00pm	We're still at it! Hear results of the 2016 pilot with cherry farmers, updates on the Common Vendor Application, and plans for 2017. Also receive a “Pocket Guide to Farmers Market Terms" in English and Spanish.
The Rise of the Social Era: Simple and Effective Ways to Use Social Media for your Market or Farm Joshua Dirks, Project Bionic Carrie Olson, Renton Farmers Market, Moderator Friday 10:45am-12:00pm	For many the term "social media" can mean one more business headache facing your market or farm. However, social media is changing the web right before our eyes, evolving how we communicate online, and the relationship between market shoppers and markets (and vendors!). Join us for an in-depth look at what social media really is, how it can benefit your market or farm, and simple strategies from one of the NW’s leading social media firms. You will come away with a checklist of simple ways to enhance and empower social strategies for your market or farm today.
What’s New and Mandatory in Produce Safety: How the New Produce Safety Rule Impacts Direct-Marketing Farmers Karen Ullmann, WSDA, Food Assistance and Regional Markets Program (FARM) Friday 1:45-3:00pm	The new FDA Produce Rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) is the first federal food safety law that sets specific standards for produce farms. What exactly does that mean for Washington’s direct marketing growers and your farmers market? Get the most current information about how farms, crops and handling practices are impacted. WSDA will review small farm exemptions, compliance deadlines, plans for education and enforcement, and how these requirements compare to the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards. Lots to learn for the upcoming market and selling season!
Finding and Keeping Good Staff for your Market Booths and Farms Kurt Tonnemaker & Stacy Felure, Tonnemaker Family Farms Friday 3:45-5:00pm	Learn about different ways to find and keep good employees for your farmers market business, who will add value to your farm booth and make more money than they cost! The ins and outs of interviewing, training and supervising to build trust and know your employees are giving you their best performance. The Tonnemaker family has been selling at farmers markets for 25 years and will share the tricks and secrets they've learned along the way.