conferences

For the Love of Farmers Markets-BC conference

Keynote speaker at British Columbia’s farmers market (BCAFM) conference is FMC’s Executive Director Stacy Miller: In her “Integrity at the Market speech,” Stacy will share the variety of models that farmers markets across the US are using to maintain authenticity and live up to the expectations of their communities, their customers, and their vendors.
“Trust, transparency, and the ability to empower consumers to learn and ask questions about food and farming are among the many unique values of farmers markets,” explains Miller, “but how do we honestly evaluate our progress in achieving these values?”

'For the Love of Farmers Markets'.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Request for proposals for Farm To Cafeteria conference

“6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In!” Burlington, Vermont August 2-5, 2012
Presented by: National Farm to School Network

Proposal Application Period: February 8, 2012 – March 7, 2012

No proposals will be accepted after March 7, 2012

RFP

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Tis the season: Michigan Farmers Markets Association hosts 2-day conference as number of markets grow | The Republic

The Michigan Farmers Market Association has been designing a Market Manager boot camp that sounds like a very promising way to train managers- much like the MarketU training that I had begun to design while working at marketumbrella.org. (Rumor has it that marketumbrella.org may be almost ready to start their version in early 2013, so keep an ear out for that announcement by the way.) State convenings can be useful to outside audiences because of the new resources that become available to download after one of these conferences takes place. Presentations from outside experts, case studies from markets and program measurements are often available on their websites.

Michigan Farmers Markets Association hosts 2-day conference as number of markets grow | The Republic.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Our season of sharing really starts now

For those deep in the market world, the year tends to go in patterns. Starting with workshops and meetings in the winter and early spring, we then gear up for the late spring season at market, then work madly throughout the summer, and end the year writing reports and attending to administrative needs.
Whether the market is year-round or your region has seasonal markets, it makes it hard to find the time to gain or share knowledge past those we see regularly at market.
As we start our workshop/conference season, I for one am looking forward to the Southern SAWG conference in Little Rock, AK. SSAWG functions as a regional entity, working with and through hundreds of associated organizations across 13 southern states. By building partnerships, sharing information and conducting analysis, they transform isolated ideas and innovations into practical tools and approaches for widespread use.

I have presented at past SSAWG conferences and am always energized by the farmer bustle and the very detailed assistance that is available to organizers across the South from this organization. We don’t have many large organizations down here, so we value each one we get!

There is still time to register for SSAWG; the information gained would be useful even if you are not a Southern farmer or food organizer. And if Little Rock is not possible for you to visit this year, at least sign up for their Newsletter.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

North American Farmers’ Direct Market Association conference coming up

27th Annual Convention February 10-16, 2012 in Williamsburg, VA
Great place for farmers and direct marketing organizers to learn and share techniques.

NAFDMA

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Food organizers march in support

Another way that Community Food Security Coalition supports the movement. When the conference can link and throw attention to worker rights or immigrant issues or food sovereignty issues.
In our market context, I believe we need to consider these issues more often and think of how we can support other parts of the movement that are not clearly tied yet to farmers markets.

Trader Joe’s March

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Have you registered for the CFSC conference?

The 2011 Oakland Conference is coming up quickly. Looks like a good one…

CFSC2011

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Vermont Enhancing Farmers Markets with Evaluation Tools

What: Enhancing Farmers’ Markets with Evaluation Tools
When: Monday June 20. 11 am – 2 pm
Where: Vermont Agency of Agriculture Conference Room, 116 State Street, Montpelier, VT
Note: We will provide coffee, tea, and light refreshments
Led by Market Trainer/Researcher Darlene Wolnik, sponsored by NOFA-VT

http://classic.mapquest.com/embed#b/maps/m:map:5:44.259818:-72.584116::::::1:1:::::::::/l::116+State+St:Montpelier:VT:05602-2706:US:44.26122:-72.58032:address::1:::/e

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Food policy-stage center.

As the attendance at Community Food Security Coalition’s (CFSC) conference showed, the healthy/regional food movement is gaining maturity and strength.
Over 600 attendees from every part of the U.S. and Canada came together to discuss, to see Portland’s leadership and to network. (I can personally attest to the networking ability of regional food system people.)
The Coalition always manages lively face to face opportunities and backs it up with good leadership in the sessions themselves. Planners, public health professionals, farmers, market organizers, grassroots activists, city officials were all in attendance.
They also tried to use technology to get real time voting in the Friday plenary which had some bugs (Laurel MacMillan CFSC staff, was a trouper on stage with amazing aplomb and humor to keep it going and people engaged, paired with local leader/market trainer Suzanne Briggs up there with Laurel, typing madly) but since everyone was in good humor after a pleasant breakfast, all was fine by mid-morning.
From Vancouver’s Food Charter poster to the free pear savers (those spun their own debate) to the lively networking sessions (the South/Southeast session was almost drowned out by an insurance conference play acting in the next conference space but valiantly held their space) there was plenty to learn, see and hear. As we know the 2012 Farm Bill is the focus of every food system and CFSC did an admirable job capturing the breadth of issues on the table and tactics that will be needed. The draft of priorities outlined by CFSC included:
Defend and expand Community Food Projects and Farmers Market Promotion Program
Secure support for the infrastructure needed for local and regional food systems.
Increase access to federal nutrition programs participants to food system points of entry.
Work on urban-rural linkages across existing programs.
Require USDA to streamline SNAP redemption and technology.
Promote incentives for fruit and vegetable purchases for federal nutrition program participants.
Call for a USDA report and guidance document on how local government regulations can support access to healthy foods.
Incorporate more local product into DoD Fresh and USDA Foods.
Institutionalize the tracking and evaluation of Farm to School programs.
Of course, those were presented as draft priorities so that CFSC Policy Director Kathy Mulvey and Associate Policy Director Megan Lott can continue to evolve the platform based on the membership needs of CFSC. They were very active throughout the conference as they have been in the listening sessions they have held throughout the year.
As a board member of the Coalition, I was very proud of the program staff and the work done to make the conference happen. As always, Emily Becker our conference planner (and I am sure Aleta and Erika as support) hit another home run for the movement. Doubletree Hotel was a nice location with food sourced locally.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Civil Eats talks about Food Policy

Messages from Food Policy Conference: From Neighborhood to Nation.

I love it when other people make my blogging job easier: here is a very good overview of the Portland conference from Jen Dalton, the editor of Local Eats about what she got out of the conference. Seems right to me…

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Portland Food Policy Conference and Market visit

I’ll upload some content from the CFSC Food Policy Conference attendees later this week; it was a great conference with loads of good ideas flowing. I am sure CFSC will release some data from the sessions, especially from the voting session.
Portland hosted beautifully; the regional food community was gracious and inspiring.

– City 145.4 sq mi (376.5 km2)
– Land 134.3 sq mi (347.9 km2)
– Water 11.1 sq mi (28.6 km2)
Elevation 50 ft (15.2 m)
Population (2010)
– City 583,776
– Density 4,288.38/sq mi (1,655.31/km2)
– Metro 2,226,009

Seating at Portland Saturday Market
Portland Saturday Market display
CFSC Food Policy Conf-South/Southeast Networking Session
States in South/Southeast networking session at CFSC’s Food Policy Conf
Willamette River
Mkt Mgr tent-Portland
Display-Portland Mkt
Bamboo stand at Portland Market
Map of Portland Farmers Markets
Pink Umbrella-Portland vendor
Like many markets, Portland ensures they leave only memories for their hosts.
0 CommentsLeave a comment

Food Policy Conference

Although this post is unlikely to encourage you to register and attend the Community Food Security Coalition’s Food Policy conference at this very last minute, it might. And of course, it might just get you to the CFSC’s fall conference that will be held in Oakland CA this year.
In any case, if you are in driving or biking distance of Portland, do your best to attend and or to start to connect to your peers working on policy issues. Even if you simply download the workshop list and do your best to follow or reach out to the speakers and conveners at a later date, you’ll be doing your organization a world of good.

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Balle Conference


The New Economy is being shaped at the grassroots level. Connect, share and learn from 700 pioneering business owners and investors, elected officials, philanthropists, economic development professionals and BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies) network leaders as we spotlight the most innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to growing healthy, resilient local economies.

The conference will feature:

• 80 speakers
• 16 plenary sessions and off-site celebrations
• 24 interactive sessions
• 4 local living economy tours
• Living Economies Expo
• 3 pre-conference workshop intensives:
Accelerating Community Capital
How to Build a BALLE Network
Network Leaders Exchange

BALLE

0 CommentsLeave a comment

Nashville food system work

Went to the 2011 Food Summit in Nashville this weekend, convened by Community Food Advocates. I drove there from New Orleans (just about the same amount of time to drive as to fly-about 9 hours each way) and so I was able to view some of the damage from the tornado destruction and to hear from folks along the way about the flooding of Memphis from the Mississippi and its tributaries.
The one day summit is the follow up from their 2008 Summit and shows just how much can be done in less than 3 years in one area. Over 300 people registered for this event and the breadth of the projects represented was impressive.
What is working is the deep commitment to social justice issues, such as racial equity and cultural barriers. The universities are involved, the neighborhood activists are involved and the food system fulcrums that already existed (like the Nashville Farmers Market) are there.
I am looking through their handout book “From Charity to Justice” which outlines the food insecurity in the Nashville area. Seems like a textbook example of using Mark Winne and CFSC’s Food Policy training, which means they will be successful.
I think the highlight for me was the taped video message from Mark to the Nashville folks (who he clearly has worked closely with):
“For God’s sake, don’t blow it.”
Community Food Advocates

0 CommentsLeave a comment