2012 Conference Sessions

Track 1 - New Markets	Track 3 - Advanced Markets
Track 2 - Advanced Markets	Track 4 - Farmers

Download the Full Workshop Program

Track 1 - New Markets

Professional Boundaries for Market Managers
So Now You’re a Market Master…A discussion of professional boundaries and tenant relations for market managers. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, a continuum of considerations for approaching common situations will be offered. Participants will be encouraged to relate experiences of their own in this discussion on mastering your market.

Zack Cook
Assistant Farm Program Manager, Pike Place Market
Zack assists with the recruitment and retention of all PPM farmers, conducts routine farm inspections and works multiple times per week as a “market master”, assigning stall spaces and enforcing vendor compliance of the Daystall Rules. In addition to this, Zack is heavily involved in the planning and execution of all of the Market’s special events including the biannual Arcade Lights – artisan food, craft beer and wine stroll. Zack received a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University in 2002 and currently lives with his wife Rachel in North Seattle.

David Dickinson
Assistant Daystall Manger, Pike Place Market
David is in his 8th year working at Pike Place Market and works closely with farmers, craftspeople and performers in a dual role of support and enforcement. An exhibiting artist himself, David is responsible for upholding "Deet the Wooducer" standards through product screening and studio inspections.

New Market Start ups
Let’s talk! Having experienced organizing a community-based market from the ground up, Ann Foster walks through the visionary and early stages of market development. Special attention in this workshop is on the planning and implementation of a market. Ample time will be provided for Q&A.

Ann Foster
Vancouver, Washington
Ann thinks that she may be the oldest farmers’ market organizer in the entire country!

With a BA from the University of Wisconsin in the ‘60’s – college years which placed an emphasis on anti-Vietnam War activism and social upheaval - followed by a few years in the early days of the Peace Corps, Ann settled in on a long career in the exploding world of technology, starting in 1974 with the Hewlett-Packard Company in the Bay Area of California. Although her exposure to agriculture and the world of farming couldn’t have been more infrequent, her experience and exposure to business bred a keen interest in the nurturing, encouraging, supporting, building small local businesses in the community.

Ann fully retired from HP’s Vancouver Division in 2008. Her awareness that her own local group of neighborhoods was a fit setting for a real farmers’ market, and pursuing her interest in small businesses that provide fresh and local products in the hands of the local community, Ann put her well-honed project management skills to use in creating a farmers market in the center of Clark County in SW Washington. The market opened in July of 2010 and is now preparing for its third successful year in Salmon Creek, 10 miles north of the City of Vancouver in Clark County, Washington.

Secrets to Marketing Success for New Markets
Establishing a solid marketing foundation is one of the keys to success in the early years of a market. From defining initial marketing goals to developing your market's brand and communication strategy, marketing deserves a line item in your budget and a permanent place on your board meeting agenda. This workshop will uncover the secrets to marketing success for a new market, including those that have little to no marketing budget!

Annie Eissler
Co-Founder & VP, Client Services, Mixtur
Annie’s 20 year marketing career in the U.S., Canada, and Europe includes senior marketing positions at both publicly traded companies and start-ups. She currently serves as VP, Client Services for Mixtur where she specializes in helping companies with marketing and business strategy, product marketing, PR and social media, business development, online marketing and campaign planning and execution. Annie has in-depth marketing experience in the technology, consumer, retail, non-profit and agribusiness sectors. She spent the first seven years following graduate school working for non-profit organizations, primarily focused on international relations and natural resource management and micro-business projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Annie was a member of the board of the Poulsbo Farmers Market for several years, and helped the market significantly grow

Marketing Techniques for Identifying & Engaging Your Market’s Second Circle
Many markets get to a place in their development where they need to look beyond their loyal fans and customers to grow. Identifying and engaging the audiences in your “second circle” requires proactive thinking and planning on the part of you, your board and community. During this workshop, we’ll explore strategies to access your second circle to increase your market's effectiveness, including a look at both traditional (think: outbound) and non-traditional (think: inbound/pull) marketing tactics. PS…we will talk social media!

Technology Overview
This session will give an overview of the WSU Farmers Market Wireless Technology Project and the King County Farmers Market Access Project. We will discuss the benefits and costs to WA State farmers markets that accept credit, debit and Food Stamp cards through a wireless Point of Sale machine. Manager, vendor, and customer perceptions of wireless technology will be discussed, as well as the future of the technology and its use.

Rita Ordóñez
Rita has a BA in Geography from Western WA University and a MA in Geography from the University of WA. She has served as a board member and treasurer for the Mount Vernon Farmers Market in the past and continues to volunteer there on a regular basis. Rita brought the use of EBT/Food Stamps to the Mount Vernon FM in 2006 and coordinated the WSFMA Wireless Technology Pilot Project in 2008 and 2009. She currently coordinates the WSU Farmers Market Wireless Technology Project which will run through 2013. The Wireless Technology Projects facilitated the installation of wireless card processing machines at farmers markets across the state of WA and enabled customers to use credit/debit/EBT cards as a method of payment.

Karina Gallardo
Karina is an Assistant Professor Extension Specialist in the School of Economic Sciences and at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center of Washington State University in Wenatchee. She holds a BS in Food Science from the Universidad National Agraria La Molina (Lima, Peru), a Master in Science in Agricultural Economics from Mississippi State University and a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Oklahoma State University. Gallardo’s primary research and outreach program goal is to enhance value-added agribusiness opportunities for specialty crops in the state of Washington. As such, her areas of research are focused on consumer demand analysis and economics of technological change.

Breakout Session for Markets of the Same Scale or Structure
Back by popular demand! Haven't you always wanted to know how other markets with the same scale or structure handle that one particular thing that is a stumbling block for your market each week? Now's your chance! This session will have 3 breakouts facilitated by WSFMA Board Members. Formatted as a roundtable discussion; ask the questions of your peers at the table and share your own excellent solutions to the challenges of the marketplace. This is meant to be a peer to peer Q & A opportunity.

501(c) at Farmers Markets
This workshop will be based on the Jefferson County Farmers Market’s experience in seeking 501(c)(3) non-profit status from the IRS. It will include a discussion of the considerations underlying JCFM’s decision to seek 501(c)(3) status, the process it followed in completing its application - with emphasis on the specific types of evidence it presented to the IRS, and finally the dialogue between the IRS and JCFM that ensued after the application was filed.

Ann Pougiales
Ann lives in Port Townsend, WA where she has served on the Board of the Jefferson County Farmers Market for the past 5 years. She is also one of the founding members of the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Slow Food USA and has served on its Board since its inception in 2007. While on the JCFM Board, she assisted that market in pursuing its successful application to the IRS for 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Prior to moving to Washington, Ann practiced law in San Francisco, retiring from that practice in 2005.

Tract 2 – Advanced Markets

Market Data Management
Description: We will discuss strategies for gathering, storing, and sharing your market data across different platforms and with different people in your organization. We will discuss how to get the most impact from the least amount of data entry. We will demonstrate the QuickBooks Online software and quickly walk through setting up a market's Chart of Accounts and basic bookkeeping system including how to enter its weekly data and then monthly generate reports. We will also discuss QuickBooks Desktop version, Microsoft Excel and Mail Chimp- a free online contact manager and e-newsletter program.

Will O'Donnell
Over the last 15 years Will O'Donnell has been in involved in every aspect of Pacific Northwest Farmers Markets, as a customer, vendor, board member, market manager, and now Treasurer of the WSFMA. During that time he has transitioned from militant anti-tech chicken farmer to app loving iphone addict. He is currently Director of the Jefferson County Farmers Markets, which includes Port Townsend. He was formerly a cofounder of both Finnriver Farm and Mt. Townsend Creamery.

FMNP Updates
This session will include a summary of the information for the past year, if and how the WIC FMNP will be operated in the summer of 2012 and if and when the WIC fruit and vegetable checks will be allowed at markets.

Janet Charles
Janet Jackson Charles has worked in state and local public health services since 19995 and has been the Washington State WIC Director since 2005. She represents the USDA Western Region WIC programs on the Board of Directors of the Nation WIC Association. Janet is a graduate of the National Public Health Institute sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and holds a Masters degree in Social Work with an emphasis on Planning, Administration, and Management. Janet has also worked in non-profit organizations and served on non-profit boards. She is a skilled communicator and an experienced presenter with a passion for public health and social justice.

Year Round Markets
Have you ever wondered if your market should operate year round? Come with all your questions and participate in a session that will attempt to answer them along with giving you the benefits and struggles you may face as you convert your market. Judy Kirkhuff has an insight into the challenges, opportunities and the many aspects needing evaluation when considering operating a year-round or winter market. She will be answering questions and sharing some of her insights into the constantly changing dynamics that are affecting extended-season farmers markets in the state.

Judy Kirkhuff,
Market Master Seattle Farmers Market Association
Judy is a 40 year resident of the Seattle area and a WSFMA Board Member in her second 2-year term. She works full-time as the Market Master of the Seattle Farmers Market Association. She joined the farmers markets family in 1997 when she started a home-based nursery & salad greens farm, and began selling her heirloom vegetables, herb and flower sets, and a unique mix of bagged salad greens as a vendor at Seattle area farmers markets. In 1998, she was recruited to manage the farmer section of the Fremont Sunday Market, and when that market was dislocated by development in Fremont in 2000, she moved the farmers and original handcrafts from that market to the Ballard neighborhood, forming the Ballard Farmers Market, the first community farmers market to remain open year-round. Since those early years, she has organized opening 10 more markets around the Seattle area. This experience has provided Judy with insight into the challenges, opportunities and the many aspects needing evaluation when considering operating a year-round or winter market. She will be answering questions and sharing some of her insights into the constantly changing dynamics that are affecting extended-season farmers markets in the state.

Markets Count! Collecting, Tracking & Using Your Farmers Market Data
What information should markets track? How can we use data to manage our markets better? What do we need to effectively advocate or increase resources for farmers markets? What do other markets do? In this workshop, Colleen Donovan and Karen Kinney will present the “Market Vitals” – 12 key pieces of data that a group of market managers discussed, dissected and agreed was important last November. Come share your and hear others experiences, ideas, stories, and practices. Learn about how the Market Vitals are define and how they can be collected by a one-manager market. Receive templates and sample forms. And help us figure out what the next steps should be to refine and roll out these tools around the state.

Karen Kinney
Interim Executive Director, WSFMA
Karen is the Interim Executive Director for the WSFMA and also works for the King County Agriculture Program and provides support services to market managers, new farmers and deals with challenges to farmers operating in an urbanizing region. For the past 13 years, she has been an advocate for helping markets adapt to changes in the Basic Food (EBT) Program and expanding the reach of the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. She organized her first food buying club in Memphis many years ago. Most recently she was part of the community group that created the Columbia City Farmers Market in Seattle and was its market manager for 9 years. She was one of the cofounders of the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance which now operates 7 markets in Seattle. Karen has a Bachelors of Social Work from SUNY at Buffalo, MBA from the University of Washington.

Colleen Donovan
Based in Central Washington, Colleen currently coordinates statewide farmers market research for the WSU’s Small Farm Program and the Farmers Market Action Team. She has worked in the region since 2003, first with Heifer International and later as a consultant, to support a wide range of grassroots community food security projects. They include support for immigrant farming, urban agriculture, youth, sustainable livestock production, small business development and small farms advocacy. She is an author of the WSDA Small Farm and Direct Marketing Program’s “Small Farm and Direct Marketing Handbook.” Colleen also has served on the board of the Washington State Farmers Market Association since 2010.

Cottage Food Law
What Washington’s New Cottage Food Law Means for Cottage Food Businesses and Farmers Markets. How did this law come about? What products does it allow? What is not allowed? How do folks get licensed? What are the requirements for being a licensed cottage food business? How can market managers get verification that a business is licensed for cottage food? We’ll answer these questions and your questions in this session.

Claudia Coles
Administrator, Office of Compliance and Outreach within the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA)
Claudia was the Food Safety Program Manager for WSDA since 2000. Other past WSDA positions Claudia has held include the Assistant Compliance Program Manager, Regional Food Safety Supervisor, Food Safety Officer and Microbiologist. Claudia is a member of numerous National Food Safety Committees such as the Association of Food and Drug Officials where she currently holds the President-elect position, the National Conference of Interstate Milk shippers and holds a variety of board positions on Regional and National Food Safety Associations. Claudia is also a Past President of WAFDO.Claudia has received five awards from the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration for her consistent leadership in food safety, seafood HACCP, Interstate Milk Shippers conference committees such as Dairy HACCP and the International Certification Pilot Program, training teams, and promoting state and federal partnerships. Claudia earned her Bachelor of Science in Food Science from North Dakota State University.

Patrice Barrentine
Patrice has 20 years of non-profit experience working directly with clients and stakeholders problem-solving barriers to success. She was in the natural foods grocery business for 10 years and for 7 years she was a direct buyer in Olympia. It was here she found herself in the role of working with agricultural producers to increase their market share by developing pricing, displays that sell, and new value-added products. Her passion was born. In fact, Patrice developed the largest farm-direct buying program in the state. In her 4½ years at WSDA’s Small Farm Direct Marketing program, she developed the Small Farm Direct Marketing Handbook, a CSA Program for State Agencies, Savor WA - a culinary agritourism program, and the new Farm Wisdom Video Series. Now in the position of Outreach and Education Coordinator in the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division, she is an advisor to the Washington State Farmers Market Association Board, WSDA’s Small Business Liaison to the State of Washington working with agencies to reduce the burden to small businesses of complying with regulations while representing agriculture, and on behalf of the Director, Patrice represents WSDA at the Governor’s Job Creation and Economic Recovery Sub-Cabinet. Based in Olympia, Patrice offers expertise in complying with regulations.

Getting Political
Do politics make you glaze over or roll your eyes? If so you need to join Ellen Gray of The Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network to learn how you can engage in the legislative process and give your farmers market a voice in Olympia. The workshop will provide information about 2012 issues pending before the state legislature, such as the elimination of the Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. Ellen will also share information about the Federal Farm Bill and several opportunities that could help our farmers and our farmers markets. After this workshop you will stop rolling your eyes and start making calls to your elected officials!

Ellen Gray
Executive Director, Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network
Ellen has been the Executive Director of The Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network (The Network) since January 2008 (www.wsffn.org) . Ellen currently serves on the “Kitchen Cabinet” of Washington State University’s Dean of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resource Sciences and co-chairs the Good Food Coalition, a group of organizations and individuals that advocate for policies that ensure a sustainable and just food system in Washington State. Ellen has a MMA from the University of Washington and a BA from the University of Vermont. Ellen has a long commitment to advocacy work and more than 28 years experience in the non-profit sector. Originally from Vermont, Ellen spent much of her childhood working on either dairy or horse farms. She has a deep appreciation for challenges facing small farms that are a vital element of a healthy agricultural landscape. Ellen lives in Mount Vernon.

Tract 3 Advanced Markets

Marketing Displays & Differentiating Your Products
Gibbs Family Farm is a stand-out for many reasons from ecological farming practices to high quality products...but have you seen their displays? Learn from Danielle how she packs for the market, sets up, incorporates signage, and keeps product looking stellar at the market and builds gorgeous eye-catching displays that sell. You will learned the best tricks and methods behind the creation of bountiful eye-catching displays. We will cover variety choice color coordination and the use of props, great ways to keep your produce fresh, and tricks to selling more of a product. You will learn how to personalize your booth and many more ideas and ways to make your booth the first one customers want to buy from.

Danielle Gibbs
Although I had never really grown much of anything before I spent most of college staring out the window daydreaming about becoming a farmer. Finally I gave it a try in the summer of 2000 on a large apple farm in MA and got my butt kicked but had discovered my passion. I drove west the next year to intern on the Gibbs Farm where I was first introduced to organic farming practices. I decided to stick around and marry Farmer Gibb's oldest son. I co-started the Tierra Learning Center organic garden in 2003 and managed it for 4 years before deciding to return as a partner to the family farm. I have now been working and learning from Grant in our orchards and fields and managing our market gardens and marketing for the past 5 seasons.

Social Media
Lean how to use Word press, Facebook, Twitter & Flicr to dramatically improve your online visibility and to engage and secure commitment from your community. Are you interested in getting into social media but don't know where to start or do you find yourself intimidated by it all? Come learn how easy and free social media can be.

Zachary Lyons
Zachary is the Communications Director & Cooking Demonstration Coordinator for the Seattle Farmers Market Association and President of the Seattle Chefs Collaborative. He was the WSFMA's first executive director from 1999-2005 and he co-authored the Washington State Farmers Market Manual with Marcy Ostrom published by WSU. He is a widely published food and agriculture writer and a certified barbecue judge.

Safety and Liability at the Farmer’s Market
Discussion of the major elements of the General Liability Policy with focus on “negligence” and what that means, the use of small groups to find and “interpret” provisions in the policy. Risk Transfer Techniques which includes: Contracts, Partners having insurance , Coverage Levels Equal to own, Named as an Additional Named Insured, Hold Harmless Language (neutral) and Proof thereof. Risk Control Techniques which include: Slip, Trip and Fall reduction and Others of interest. Plus some time for Q&A

Gregory C. Brennecke
Technical Consultant I, Liberty Northwest
Experience: Technical Consultant, Risk Control Manager – Safeco - Pacific Northwest Region. Managed up to eight field representatives. Risk Control Consultant – AVP – Marsh, USA, Inc. and Commissioned Officer, US Navy. Education: Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry Occupational Safety & Health Standards for the Construction Industry Principles of Ergonomics and the University of Minnesota – B.A. Degree, Political Science. Certifications, Memberships: ARM, ALCM, CSP, CFPS, and CPCU designations, Memberships in SFPE, ASSE, NFPA, Member of the NFPA 30 Flammable & Combustible Liquids Committee (Fundamentals)

Diverse Markets, understanding and communicating with immigrant and minority vendors and consumers
In today's farmers markets in Washington (and the country) the diversity of customers and vendors has increased dramatically. People from various races, ethnicities, nationalities, languages, socio-economic backgrounds, etc. sell and buy at farmers markets on a regular basis. How are mangers of farmer's markets, board members, other administrators, and vendors prepared to communicate cross culturally? What are the challenges and strategies for mutual understanding and smooth interaction? This session will "scratch the surface" of working with diverse groups. This Session is designed to address the uniqueness of a multicultural farmers market and will provide ample opportunity to the participates for dialogue and engagement.

Speaker: Jose Garcia-Pabon
Dr. Jose L. Garcia-Pabon was the Washington State University's Latino/Hispanic Community Development Specialist and Assistant Professor in Community and Rural Sociology from July 2007 to July 2009. From July 2009 to date, he has continued his work as the WSU Extension Latino Community Studies and Outreach Specialist. He launched initiatives and created partnerships in the areas of economic development and leadership; Latinos in food and agriculture; and cultural competency working with Latino audiences. He created several learning opportunities for/about the Latino community in Washington, as well as several partnerships providing training to Latino/rural small business and farmers. Jose finished his Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension and Education at the University of Minnesota, his MS in Farming Systems Research and Extension at the University of Florida and his BS at the University of Kassel in Germany. He is married and has two daughters (11 and 15) who keep him out of trouble when he's not working.

Event planning to maximize vendor sales
Special events at farmers markets are lot of work – they cost money and time and can be taxing on staff and volunteers. This session is all about strategic event planning to maximize vendor sales, specifically farmers, but others too. This is not about how to plan a festival, but more about what marketing programs can be employed before, during and after an event to drive sales and create repeat customers.

Robin Crowder
Robin is the director of development and marketing for the 21 Acres Center for Local Foods and Sustainable Living. Crowder’s expertise lies in sustainable marketing initiatives, building supply and demand for local foods, and developing new programs in a wide variety of settings with a conscious attention to environmental issues, climate change and limiting energy use. In her prior position with the University of North Carolina, Crowder directed research related to local foods, agriculture and economic impact projects addressing health disparities. She managed an Innovation Laboratory titled, Linking Local Sustainable Farming and Health, which examined the question, “Can eating local address obesity, the environment and economic viability?” Crowder has served on a team for three years to write and manage federal, state and foundation-funded grants related to agriculture, food insecurity and food justice projects and played a key role in community-based participatory research. Crowder has an extensive background leading entrepreneurial initiatives with place-based traditional and social marketing strategies that also take into account the dynamics of behavioral economics. Her work has included: fundraising campaigns; local foods branding; managing packaging and promotion design; creating direct farm-to-consumer buying opportunities; building wholesale relationships; directing public relations; orchestrating major special events; planning cooking and nutrition classes; and conducting educational programming. Crowder served as operations manager the Bellingham Farmers Market for many years and helped farmers and small businesses position themselves to attract a greater customer base including both wholesale and retail buyers. Prior to that Crowder worked for major health care and senior housing companies leading their corporate marketing departments. Crowder provides ongoing consultation to urban planning and public health organizations, and volunteers for farmers market membership organizations on policy and advocacy issues.

Expanding EBT Access and Innovative Outreach
Accepting EBT can be a win-win-win situation for vendors, your market and your community. Accepting EBT will bring in new food dollars for vendors and help low-income members of your community gain access to healthy, locally-produced foods. When both your vendors and your customers benefit, the market is strengthened as well. This workshop will focus on innovative outreach ideas that have proven successful in markets across the country. From local partnerships to yard sign campaigns to statewide outreach efforts, there are many models that you can learn from and adapt to work in your farmers market setting.

Dru Montri
Dru has been the Director of the Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) since its inception in 2006. In the past five years, together with a diverse group of stakeholders, she has led MIFMA’s organizational and membership development as well as its strategic planning in support of the organization's mission to create a thriving marketplace for local food and farm products. In this time Michigan has seen the number of farmers markets grow from 150 to more than 280 today. Simultaneously, MIFMA has grown from an idea to an association of more than 300 members with programming for farmers market mangers, farmers, and small businesses focused on professional development, marketing, state and national policy, and food access. Dru and the association are committed to sustaining an organization that supports and promotes farmers and farmers markets throughout Michigan.

Dru received a B.S. from Michigan State and her M.S. from Penn State, both in Horticulture. To complement her work with MIFMA, Dru is pursuing a Ph.D. at Michigan State University with a focus on sustaining farmers markets in low-income urban areas from the farmer and vendor perspective. She and her husband, Adam, and daughters, Lydia and Alison, also own and operate Ten Hens Farm, a year-round farm in Bath, MI where they sell twelve months of the year through farmers market and restaurant outlets. She believes that the overlapping nature of her work with MIFMA, her Ph.D. and owning and operating her own farm strengthen and support each other.

Tract 4 - Famers

Sleeping Lady Hydroponics
The Sleeping Lady greenhouse is utilized year-round for the production and propagation of culinary herbs, greens, annuals and perennials. Here is what to expect during a February visit: Microgreens, pea shoot, water cress and microbasil production. Greenhouse herb and salad production and pest monitoring/biologic controls. Hydroponic lettuce phase 2; vertical systems, light movers and staggered harvest. Worm composting. Annual planting begins!

Eron Drew
Eron holds a Bachelor of Science degrees in Geology, Conservation Biology and Zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Co-Owner of Tierra Garden Organic Produce in Leavenworth for the past 2 seasons. Board Vice President of the Leavenworth Community Farmers Market.

Extending the Growing and Selling Season with Hoophouses -
As farmers markets continue to expand their months of operation, customers continue to look for fresh, locally grown produce for more of the year. Hoophouses are simple structures that allow farmers to extend their growing season and harvest crops ten to twelve months of the year without the need for supplemental lighting or heat inputs. Join Adam Montri, Michigan State University Hoophouse Outreach Specialist and co-owner of Ten Hens Farm, to talk about structure selection and site prep, crop selection and timing, and the economics of hoophouse farming. This workshop will be geared to those interested in getting started with hoophouses as well as those that have been growing in them for years.

Adam Montri
Adam Montri is the outreach coordinator for the Student Organic Farm in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University. He works with rural and urban farmers using field production, high tunnels, and other season extension techniques with a focus on profitability. He and his wife, Dru, own and operate Ten Hens Farm in Bath, MI where they grow and sell vegetables 12 months of the year.

The Basics of Value-Added Processing
Value-Added processing can be a great way to extend your season, or your income stream, or both. It can be a means of employing your key employees in the ‘off’ season and a means to profit from your ‘seconds’ or culls. This session will provide an overview of this complex topic and help you to decide if this entrepreneurial venture is something that you might want to consider adding to your farm business.

Fred Berman,
WSDA, Education and Outreach Specialist
I earned a BS in Environmental Sciences from Calif. State Univ. – Northridge, completed graduate classes at UC Berkeley while working on campus at the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, transferred to a position at UC Davis, and ultimately worked for Alameda Co. Health Dept. before immigrating with my wife and two children to Norway to begin our farming career.
I have been an organic farmer for more than 27 years, and a restaurateur from 1984 through 2010. Beginning in 2006 I served as the Small Farm Program Coordinator at WSDA until June30, 2011, and currently work as an Education & Outreach Specialist for the Office of Compliance and Outreach under the Food Safety & Consumer Services Division.

I currently serve on the board of the Northwest Agricultural Business Center, 21 Acres, the advisory committees of the Community Food Co-op Farm Fund and the Sustainable Connections Food and Farming Program, the WSU Small Farm Team, and the board of the Cloud Mountain Farm Center.

Whole Farm Planning
Bobbi will discuss the importance of whole farm planning for any farming business or enterprise. She will also discuss the basic things to think about when incorporating livestock and their management into your plans, the importance of knowing your soils and their capabilities, and goals, opportunities and pitfalls to avoid when getting started.

Bobbi Lindemulder,
Lead Farm Planner, Snohomish Conservation District
Bobbi has been the Lead Farm Planner at Snohomish Conservation District since 1997 where she has worked with thousands of farmers helping them develop a farm plan designed to maintain and enhance the natural resources on the farm, while helping them meet their farming goals and improving chore efficiency. She works with any size of farm, on a voluntary, non-regulatory basis to help provide technical assistance and recommended Best Management practices that will work for the new or experienced farmer. She has worked with every type of livestock, and is developing a Sustainable Agriculture program at the District to better serve the crop, nursery, and other farming enterprises. She holds a degree in Range Resource Management from Montana State University. Outside of her work schedule, Bobbi and her husband Chuck operate the 100 acre family farm in the Snoqualmie Valley where they converted it from a 70+ year dairy farm to a successful grass-fed beef enterprise.

Claudia Coles
Administrator, Office of Compliance and Outreach within the Food Safety and Consumer Services Division of the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
Claudia was the Food Safety Program Manager for WSDA since 2000. Other past WSDA positions Claudia has held include the Assistant Compliance Program Manager, Regional Food Safety Supervisor, Food Safety Officer and Microbiologist. Claudia is a member of numerous National Food Safety Committees such as the Association of Food and Drug Officials where she currently holds the President-elect position, the National Conference of Interstate Milk shippers and holds a variety of board positions on Regional and National Food Safety Associations. Claudia is also a Past President of WAFDO.Claudia has received five awards from the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration for her consistent leadership in food safety, seafood HACCP, Interstate Milk Shippers conference committees such as Dairy HACCP and the International Certification Pilot Program, training teams, and promoting state and federal partnerships. Claudia earned her Bachelor of Science in Food Science from North Dakota State University.

Roundtable on Food Safety
Have a question about food safety, but haven’t known who to ask? Well, ask WSDA and WSU’s experts! This engaging roundtable discussion will allow you to ask simple and technical questions about food safety on your farm, in your food business, and at the market. Ask your questions about safe handling, storage, field harvest, field rinsed, packing, distribution, value-added products, food processing, GAPs, and more.

Karen Killenger
Marketing Psychology
How to use behavioral economics, sales and promotion tactics, smart pricing, display strategy and booth design to take advantage of consumer buying psychology to generate increased market sales. These methods are proven to work and inexpensive to implement. This is less about beautiful display and more about strategic placement, consumer education, and ways to better engage customers to ultimately build stronger retail demand.

Speed Dating
Speed Dating: WSFMA Style
Sign up for a coveted spot on the new Speed Dating schedule to get candid advice from marketing expert Annie Eissler on your market’s marketing plan and programs. Come armed with any materials you’d like to have reviewed as well as your list of questions during a 20 minute Speed Dating session, WSFMA style! Or even better, send materials and questions in advance to annie@mixtur.com so she has more time to prepare for you and your market!

Organic Certification Specialist - WSDA Organic Food Program
Renee Delaney is available to answer any questions with regards to the National Organic Standards and what is required of the standards. She can clarify confusing points of the rule in addition to market claims that are acceptable and not for certified and non certified farms. She can identify what tools are available to market managers to ensure that claims being made at vendor booths are accurate and appropriate. There are a myriad of farming operations that co-exist in this State and it is in everyone’s interest to avoid as much customer confusion as possible.

Renee Delaney, Organic Certification Specialist
WSDA Organic Food Program
With the program since 2008, Renee Delaney works with both new and existing organic livestock producers on all aspects of organic production and certification. Renee has a focus on feed and forage crop production in organic systems and is our program’s small farm liaison, helping to coordinate the agency’s outreach to the state’s many small farms. Prior to joining the program, Renee worked in diverse sectors of the agriculture community including vineyard management, nursery merchandising and pest management. Renee holds a B.A. in Plant Biology/Botany from Southern Illinois University and has completed inspection training through the International Organic Inspectors Association.

Download the Full Workshop Program