The annual conference of the Missouri Farmers Market Association on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22 and 23, will offer learning opportunities for those involved in the management of farmers markets and for growers of specialty crops.
The meeting will be in Webb City at the Route 66 Civic Center, 21 S. Webb St.
On Friday, a bus tour begins at 9 a.m. with stops at a farm with both heated and unheated high tunnels as well as a hydroponic lettuce greenhouse and winter field crops. Other stops include a winery and an apiary. The tour, which includes lunch, is $20 per person.
Friday afternoon keynote speaker Dru Montri, executive director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association, will speak about “Cultivating Strong Communities Through Farmers Markets.” Round table discussions follow with participants choosing two topics to explore: Grants for Farmers and Markets, Food Stamps at the Market, Farm Inspections, Working With Your Health Department, and Increasing Market Board and Member Participation. Debi Kelly of University of Missouri Extension concludes the Friday program, presenting about “Cleaning and Sanitizing Produce.” A Friday evening reception at the historical Middlewest Building will feature local foods and music.
Saturday begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Webb City Farmers Market, where the new commercial kitchen officially will be opened by Janie Dunning, Missouri’s state director of USDA Rural Development. This will be followed by tours of the market and the market kitchen.
Saturday presentations for managers at the Route 66 Civic Center include the following:
• Managing Volunteers — Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture.
• Expanding SNAP (food stamp) Usage at Your Farmers Market — Eva Agudelo, Wholesome Wave.
• Succession Planning or Preparing Your Market for Transitions in Leadership — Dru Montri.
• Power of Produce — children’s education — Angela Foley of the Webster Groves Farmers Market.
• Collecting and Sharing Market Data to Measure and Promote Growth — Dru Montri.
Presentations for growers include the following:
• Healthy Soils — David Yarrow, who teaches carbon-smart farming and trains growers in soil regeneration and nutrient-dense crop production.
• Value-Added Grants for Farmers — Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development, and Marla Young, Missouri Department of Agriculture.
• Food Safety — FSMA and GAP Updates — Patrick Byers, University of Missouri Extension.
• Selling to Restaurants: Getting Your Foot in the Door and Maintaining Long-Term Relationships — Adam Montri, owner of Ten Hens Farm and outreach specialist with the Michigan State University Department of Horticulture.
