Released December 19, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A conference Feb. 6-7, 2009, will focus on developing financially sustainable farmers markets in Arkansas communities.
The Farmers Market as a Community Collaboration Conference will be held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Arkansas Farmers Market Association (AFMA) at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Fayetteville, said Heather Friedrich, program specialist in the horticulture department of the University of Arkansas System’s Division of Agriculture. The Division of Agriculture and the National Center for Appropriate Technology-ATTRA are coordinating the conference and co-sponsors include the AFMA, the Arkansas Agriculture Department and the city of Fayetteville.
The early registration fee for the conference is $20 for both days, including lunch on Saturday. After Jan. 16 registration will be $30.
A Friday night banquet will cost $20 and feature a menu of local foods, entertainment and remarks from chefs and growers. Curt Rom, UA professor of horticulture, will speak on “Growing Food and Growing Culture.”
Friday’s schedule offers programs of interest to market managers and board members, Friedrich said. Sessions will cover maintaining and growing a small market; sales tax, insurance and other legal issues; farmers market board development; and market evaluation.
Saturday’s program will appeal to farmers market vendors and management, Friedrich said. Sessions will include vendor success stories, market promotion, recruiting vendors and other topics.
For more information and a complete schedule, contact Friedrich by phone, 479-575-2798, or e-mail, heatherf@uark.edu; Janet Bachmann of NCAT-ATTRA at 479-283-3076 or janetb@ncat.org; or visit the AFMA Web site: http://www.uark.edu/afma/
To register, contact Shelly Walters of the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau by phone, 479-521-5776, or e-mail, swalters@experiencefayetteville.com.
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http://arkansasagnews.uark.edu/3093.htm
Contacts Heather Friedrich, 479-575-2798, heatherf@uark.edu
Janet Bachmann, 479-283-3076, janetb@ncat.org
Fred Miller, 479-575-5647, fmiller@uark.edu
