St. Louis Grocery Retail And Foodservice Buyers Meet With Specialty Growers
Bloomington Randolph County Farm Bureau will hold a Meet St. Louis Retail and Foodservice Buyers meeting on March 11th, 2011, at Randolph County Farm Bureau, 1403 Hillcrest Drive, Sparta, Illinois, from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm for Illinois specialty growers. The event is free and lunch will be provided.
Buyers attending are from organizations such as Dierberg's, Schnucks, Sunfarm Food Service, Ole Tyme Produce Inc., and Sappington Farmers' Market, a retail market owned by farmers.
Buyers will provide an overview of their organization, packaging requirements, good agriculture practice (GAP) and product liability insurance requirements along with a listing of preferred produce varieties. Some buyers will discuss making packing boxes available for farmers, arranging pick-up locations for mixed loads and the exploration of making refrigerated trucks available to assist in field heat removal.
Cynthia Haskins, Manager of Business Development and Compliance for Illinois Farm Bureau, is the coordinator of the event. "This is an opportunity for farmers and buyers to roll up their sleeves and have solid discussions that can lead to promising new business models," states Haskins.
The one-day event will also include mini-education sessions. Education sessions will include Market Ready: Tips for Selling to Food Retailers, Distributors and Restaurants and FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Update, presented by John Pike, Economic Development Educator, University of IL Extension; Low Cost Loans and Grant Opportunities, presented by James R. Wanstreet, Area Director, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and State Programs Available for Helping Small Businesses, presented by Jeff Torricelli, Central Regional Outreach Manager, Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
"This event is targeted to farmers who are wanting to meet with buyers and who are looking to either expand or diversify their farming operation," states Ryan Ford, Randolph County Farm Bureau Manager. Ryan comments, "It is also a great starting place for farmers who are contemplating selling to the wholesale market."
SOURCE: Illinois Department of Agriculture