Winter Workshop Series - CISA#6- To Diversify or Not to Diversify? And How?

Date: 
Wednesday, March 1, 2017 - 5:00pm to 8:30pm
Location: 
Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue, Kittredge Center: Room 303

CISA invites you to join our eight-workshop series on Mapping Out Your Farm’s Future: Settings Goals for the Success and Sustainability of Your Farm beginning January 2017. In order to draw a map of the future of your farm, you need a solid foundation with which to review your past and assess your present. This workshop series will support farm owners and operators in decision making for realistic long-term financial, operational, marketing, and personal goals. Examples in the workshops will be farm related, but the skills and methodology will be relevant to all businesses.

Participation in the whole series is encouraged. You will be eligible for a one-on-one consultation by attending one Business Plan workshop. Attending three workshops gives you the eligibility for an additional one-on-one consultation related to the topic of any workshop being held. Dinner will be served at each session. The cost to attend the series is $90 for Local Hero members, or $15 for each individual workshop. The non-member fee is $110 for the series, or $18 for each individual workshop. Register online at buylocalfood.org or contact Stevie Schafenacker at stevie@buylocalfood.org (413) 665-7100. If cost is a barrier to your participation, please feel free to contact Stevie to discuss options as we want everyone to be able to get the training they need to effectively operate their business. Scholarships may be available.

The first half hour of each workshop will be for food and socializing. Workshops will begin promptly thereafter.

 

To Diversify or Not to Diversify? And How?
March 1, 5:00-8:30pm
Holyoke Community College, 303 Homestead Avenue, Kittredge Center: Room 303
Market fluctuation due to over saturation of farms, unforeseen weather issues, and changes in consumer demands all affect how farmers determine what to grow, where to sell it, and how to price their product. This workshop is for farmers who are interested in market diversification as a path to farm sustainability and profitability. We will use marketing channel assessment tools to project the potential outcomes. Come prepared as this class is interactive; we will look at real farm examples and work on your own farm situations.
Presenter: Matt Leroux – Cornell Cooperative Extension