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Building Better Market Boards
Holly O'Neil, Crossroads Consulting
Thursday 1:30-2:45pm
Learn about farmers market board best practices including tips on board governance, personnel management, communication, and how to recruit and keep strong performers.
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.
Data Collection for Farmers Markets
Ivy Fox & Julian O'Reilley, Neighborhood Farmers Markets
Thursday 2:55-4:10pm
Tips and tricks for getting not just good Farmers Market data, but the right data. Learn why it’s important and how to manage and process your data for efficient daily operations as well as grants and advocacy.
Farm Tours and Food Loops
Aba Kaiser, WSU Jefferson County
Sara Southerland, Sustainable Connections
Allison Colthorp, Sidhu Family Farms
Crystie Kisler, Olympic Culinary Loop
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.
Hot Off the Press: New Resources & Research for Managing Your Market
Karen Kinney
Colleen Donovan
Thursday 4:20-5:30pm
We can’t wait to share new resources to help grow your market, cut the learning curve, and navigate the ever-increasing demands of market management. Hardcopies of the new 2016 “WA State Market Management Toolkit” will be distributed and you’ll get a guided tour of the new Toolkit website. You’ll also be the first to hear about new research on FMNP and SNAP programs’ impacts on farm sales and your market’s viability.
What Makes a Site Permanent?
Brittany Meikelen, Wenatchee Farmers Market
Caprice Teske, Bellingham Farmers Market
Chris Curtis, Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance
Shane Laib, Walla Walla Farmers Market
Friday 9:15-10:30am
What makes sense for your market? A permanent structure or secure access to a street or public space? Hear from four experienced market managers to learn how to maximize your market's potential.
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.
AmeriCorps: Help others and meet critical needs in your community
Kathleen Burns, Moderator, City of Moscow
Friday 9:15 to 10:30am
Bringing health and nutrition education to your Farmers Market through an AmeriCorps volunteer. How to become a site, facilitation of the contract and the benefits of having the AmeriCorps.
Happy Vendors Happy Managers
Ivy Fox, Neighborhood Farmers Markets
Caleb Johns, Vashon Island Farmers Market
Friday 10:45am-12:00pm
Use communication as a tool for success and utilize practical examples and best practices to improve how we operate and function in both daily operations and during times of crisis!
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 & 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
The term “social media” has become ubiquitous over the past 5 years but, for many, the term 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, Project Bionic. Co-Founder and CEO Josh Dirks will walk us through these recent changes and the most common misconceptions about social media. You will come away with a checklist of simple ways to enhance and empower social strategies for your market or farm today.
Grow your Market with Kids Programming
Jesse Hansen, Spokane Regional Lead, Catholic Charities Food for All
Anna Kitchin, WSU Food $ense
Rachael Reiton, Greater Lewis County FM (Chehalis)
Carrie Olson, Moderator, Renton Farmers Market
Friday 1:45-3:00pm
This workshop explores farmers market programs that help to grow the next generation of farmers market shoppers – kids! Featuring four panelists who will present information about kids programs at markets that are designed to encourage excitement and foster learning, helping make great farmers market memories for kids who will grow to become steadfast shoppers. Find out what works, how it’s done, lessons learned and what you need to start or improve programs at your market!
Champion or Challenge: How to Advocate with Any Lawmaker
Claire Lane, Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition
Christina Wong, Northwest Harvest
Brian Estes, Moderator
Friday 1:45-3:00pm
How to best present and represent your market to the power players and how to approach governments, sponsors, partners and more to get what you need.
Building Food Access Capacity at Farmers Markets
Kate Delavan, WSFMA Food Access Program Manager
Shannon Bachtel, Skagit County Regional Lead
Karen Erickson, Snohomish County Regional Lead
Stacy Carkonen, Pierce County Regional Lead
Amanda Milholland, West Sound Regional Lead
Friday 1:45-3:00pm
Learn about WSFMA's Regional Leads program and how to tap into existing resources to bring more low-income shoppers to your market.
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) was finalized in December 2015. This marks 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.
Beyond Fundraising: Building Lasting Relationships with Partners and Funders
Stacy Carkonen, Tacoma Farmers Market
Sheryl Wiser, Tilth Alliance
Friday 3:45-5:00pm
Now that you've identified some funders, how do you keep them giving over the long term? Relationship building skills and event ideas from two fantastic fundraisers.
Tracking Fresh Bucks, WIC Checks, Tokens, and More
Sheri Muntean, CPA, PhD, Shamballa Centre
Rita Ordóñez, Food, Education, and Arts Consultant
Friday 3:45-5:00pm
Overwhelmed by all the currency options at your market? Learn bookkeeping best practices for managing EBT, Credit/Debit, match tokens and other farm-direct alternative currencies.
Redefining the Discussion about Farmers Market Impacts: Moscow Farmers Market Case Study
Kathleen Burns, Moscow Farmers Market
Saturday 9:00-10:00am
We know that markets are great for farmers and community, but how can markets measure their full value and impact on their local community? Over the past 10 years, the Moscow Farmers Market conducted five studies measuring the benefits of this 40 year historic market to the community of Moscow, Idaho. Learn what tools were used and how the Market’s economic impact was assessed. Learn how measuring value can shed new light on your market and impact your city leaders and other policymakers’ decision making and planning.