Save The Date:

New England Farmers’ Direct

Marketing Conference & Trade Show

STURBRIDGE, MASS. — Growers from across the Northeast will convene at the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center in scenic Sturbridge on Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, March 1, 2007, for the New England Farmers’ Direct Marketing Conference and Trade Show.

The unique marketing conference targets New England farmers interested in learning new marketing ideas or fine-tuning strategies for business success. Over the course of two days, there will be over 20 workshops with a wide range of marketing and business planning topics to be covered. Agri-tourism, farmers’ markets, Internet marketing, value added and testing feasibility are just some of the workshops planned. A half-day workshop especially designed for farmers’ market managers is also planned.

The morning of February 28 will feature nationally recognized agri-marketing expert Jane Eckert. Raised on her family’s apple orchard outside of St. Louis, Ms Eckert earned a degree in business and went on to A full trade show will provide farmers with information on the latest products and services. Specialty food producers from across the Northeast have also been invited to take part in the trade show to showcase unique local products perfect for roadside stands.

The conference is sponsored by all six New England State Departments of Agriculture and Harvest New England, in cooperation with Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), Cooperative Development Institute, Essex Buy Local, Federation of Massachusetts Farmers’ Markets, Massachusetts NOFA, Massachusetts Roadside Stand Association, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, University of Massachusetts Extension, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, Rhode Island Center for Agricultural Promotion and Education, Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP), and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For updated conference information or for information on exhibiting at the trade show, visit HarvestNewEngland.org/conference2007.