North Central West Virginia Farm Gathering & Local Food Expo

Event Info:

The North Central WV Farm Gathering and Local Food Expo will be held at the I-79 Technology Park on Wednesday, October 29th, from 8:30AM-5:00pm.

At this $10 event, producers and buyers of local food will attend trainings on marketing, basic AND advanced growing techniques and streamlining the purchasing process for local food. Attendees will meet their peers, learn about service providers and will enjoy a breakfast and lunch full of locally grown ingredients and prepared by Fish Hawk Acres!

The Local Food Expo portion of the Farm Gathering will allow regional producers and potential buyers to set up tables to learn about each other. Producers and buyers are encouraged to attend the Local Food Expo Track, which includes workshops on the real cost of local food to restaurants, and learning the tools of the trade to meet volume sales requirements. Additionally, producers and buyers will add their information to a growing state-wide directory of local food.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 22nd, and spots are limited, so be sure to respond quickly and save your spot at the Farm Gathering!

Fees:

Your $10 fee covers inclusion in the Local Foods Directory, as well as attendance at the Farm Gathering + Expo and a gourmet locally sourced breakfast and lunch prepared by Fish Hawk Acres.
You can add an optional vendor table IF you are a food producer or food business. Non-profits and service providers may register and have a table for $50.
All non-online payment will be collected at the door. Cash or check only.

All participants are invited to register for the local foods directory. If you choose to do so, filling out the registration form involves giving some detailed info about your business (to be shown in your directory listing), and may take 15-20 minutes. Doing so will ensure that potential customers and/or growers will be able to contact you about available food and farm products.

Agenda:

7:30-8:30AM – Vendor booth set-up

8:30-9:30AM – Registration & Refreshments

9:30am-10:15am – Welcome & Introductions

10:30am – 11:45am– Breakout Session #1

Noon – 1:00pm – LUNCH

1:15pm-2:30pm– Breakout Session #2

2:45pm-4:00pm – Breakout Session #3

4:15pm – 5:00pm – Service Provider Q & A

5:00pm – Turn in evaluation forms and depart!

Breakout Sessions:
We are excited to be able to offer break-out sessions with high-quality trainings, requested by the folks in your area. You will be able to choose from among...

All About Chickens: Broilers and Layer Production
Small Fruit Production: Brambles to Blueberries
Improve Production Through Smarter Irrigation: Tools of the trade
Beyond Organic – Alternative Certifications for Farm Products
Creative Funding for Farmers Markets: A Panelist Dialogue and Interactive Forum
Less Than You Think: How restaurants & institutions can source locally without breaking the bank
Notes From The Field: The landscape of volume sales in Appalachia; what works, and how to get there.
Meeting the Demand: Learn how to boost your volume sales potential through production planning and groups
Adding Value: The WV Agri-tourism Initiative
Branding Your Business: how to jumpstart your marketing efforts
Social media marketing for your local foods business
Postharvest Handling: Getting your product to market in great shape!