The Peru Gazette

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Cornell Cooperative Extension Pre-Season Direct Marketing Workshops in Keeseville, Canton and Watertown will help farmers who sell direct to consumers from their farms, at events or at farmers’ markets learn how to brand themselves and better market and sell their fresh food and processed items.

The 10am to 2pm workshops with Extension educators will cover how to brand a farm and its products to catch consumer attention and build buyer loyalty. Marketing chickens and poultry products will be a specific interest area for discussion.

The workshops will update growers on the Food Safety Modernization Act laws and the latest development in farmers market consumer programs such as the EBT/electronic benefits transfer payment system and the FMNP nutrition program assistance for women infants, children and senior citizens.

Adirondack Harvest Coordinator Laurie Davis will present the benefits of becoming a member of the community-based, Extension-facilitated, nonprofit organization that promotes market expansion and local food availability across 12 northern NY counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Warren, and Washington.

The workshops are set for:
March 14: Keeseville, AuSable Valley Grange, register with Laurie Davis, 518-962-4810, lsd22@cornell.edu;

April 4: Canton, St. Lawrence County Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm, register with Brent Buchanan, 315-379-9192, bab22@cornell.edu; and

April 11: Watertown, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, register with Steve Ledoux, 315-788-8450, swl73@cornell.edu.

The $15 workshop fee includes lunch. Cornell Cooperative Extension offers equal opportunity programming and employment opportunities. Learn more online at www.ccenny.com.