Arkansas Farmers Market Associations Conference

Arkansas Farmers Market Associations, Certified Arkansas Farmers' and the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show have partnered for a three-day educational conference February 25-27, 2011 in Little Rock at the Statehouse Convention Center.

The Conference will be the state's premier gathering of small farmers, agricultural students, farmers’ market managers and others involved in the small farm industry. The three-day educational conference includes day-long short courses and on-farm tours, focused workshops, engaging keynote addresses and numerous networking opportunities.

Friday, February 25 
8:00am - 5:00pm - AFMA Conference

Development of robust farmers’ markets is vital to sustainable agriculture across the United States. Farmers’ markets promote nutrition education, healthy eating, and purchase of locally grown products. Markets showcase local growers’ freshest products and provide healthy and nutritious options for local communities. The Arkansas Farmers’ Market Association (AFMA) links growers,market managers and consumers, acting as an umbrella under which Arkansas farmers’ markets thrive, expand, and educate. Topics such as, Building a Community Farmers' Market,WIC/EBT/Senior Program, Food Safety, Farmers' Market Promotion Program, AFMA Business Meeting, and more. For more information, contact Stephanie Buckley at arkansasfarmersmarket AT gmail.com.

Friday evening 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Arkansas Flavors Farm to Table Dinner - Peabody Ballroom

The event opens with an hour long meet-and-greet and book signing by Deborah Madison. Cash bar available. After dinner, Madison will talk about "Why Farm to Table is a Great Idea."  Tickets are $60 per person and must be purchased in advance through the Arkansas Flower & Garden show website.
        
Saturday, February 26
8:00am - 4:30pm - CAFM Conference

Main Speakers: John-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt  Roxbury Farm, Kinderhook, New York,
 "Scaling Up Your Highly Diversified Farming Operation."

Scaled up from 30 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) members to more than 1100 shares located throughout the Hudson Valley, including New York City with vegetables fruit, beef, lamb and pork. Jean-Paul Courtens and Jody Bolluyt will talk about how they did it, including appropriately scaled equipment, crew management, harvest systems, crop rotation and farm organization. With their production systems, they manage 11 employees during peak season.

For more information on CAFM Conference, click here.

Tickets to either conference includes a ticket to the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show, for more information, click here.