FMC at Conferences in Louisiana & Pennsylvania

      Posted On: February 8, 2019

It’s conference season! And this week, FMC took to the road to present at two events across the country; The Fresh Central Certified Institute hosted by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance in Alexandria, Louisiana, and the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture’s (PASA) annual conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Get a quick overview from both events below.

Fresh Central Certified Institute – February 6 – 7, 2019

FMC Senior Advisor, Darlene Wolnik (pictured speaking, above left), worked over the last 3 months with Central Louisiana Economic Development Authority (CLEDA) and fellow consultant and FMC board member, Sagdrina Jalal (standing, above right), of the Georgia Farmers Market Association to help design a 2-day training for markets in Central Louisiana as they kick off for their Fresh Central Certified Institute.

The training took place Wednesday and Thursday in Alexandria, Louisiana and was attended by 10 area markets. Mission, management, messaging, and measurement of markets were covered in interactive sessions, followed by one-on-one sessions at the end of Day 2 with either Sagdrina or Darlene.

Specific topics covered included market layouts, state-specific market policies, increasing the use of benefit and voucher programs, brand development, and how markets can best support sustainable production.

 

PASA Conference – February 6 – 9, 2019

FMC Membership and Operations Director, Liz Comiskey, attended the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture’s annual conference. Its first year in Lancaster, PA, resulted in a record turnout with attendees from across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Joining forces with Nancy Staisey (pictured above, middle) and Helaine Harris from Historic Lewes Farmers Market in Delaware, Liz introduced market operators and vendors to Farmers Market Metrics and the importance of collecting data to increase sales, promote the market, and to support advocacy efforts regionally and nationally. Liz also presented “Building a Managed Market,” focusing on how markets can professionalize their operations by building systems that are understandable and fair, based on the resources available in the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit.

Where will FMC be next?

Keep a look out for FMC Executive Director, Ben Feldman, at the InTents Conference February 24-26 in San Diego, California, and at the Alaska Food Festival & Conference March 8-9 in Homer, Alaska.

FMC Senior Advisor, Dar Wolnik will also be attending the Oregon Farmers Markets Association’s annual meeting February 22, and look for Jen Cheek, FMC Programs Director at the Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference and Trade Show in Massachusetts, February 27-28