Virginia Cooperative Extension, Danville Regional Foundation, City of Danville and the Pittsylvania County Office of Agricultural Development are excited to announce a third three-part regional training series for local farmers to learn best practices for participating in farmers’ markets across the region. This series is a follow-up to the well-attended spring and fall series offered in April and November of 2015.
Beginning Tuesday April 12, the trainings will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and are designed to help farmers be successful at famers’ markets and other direct to consumer outlets. Thanks to generous sponsorship by Danville Regional Foundation, there is no cost to attend the training, but registration is required.
The trainings will cover Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce, GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), Food Safety with VDACS and VDH, Veterinary Feed Directive, Starting a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA), Uninspected Meat Products, SNAP, WIC/(Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and Grant Funding for farmers. Refreshments will be provided at each event, as well as time to network with other local farmers and farmers’ market vendors.
Farmers’ markets are growing in popularity in the Dan River Region and all across the country. In the last 20 years, the number of markets grew from 1,700 to more than 8,000 nationwide. Local communities now understand the important role that farmers’ markets play in supporting the local economy and the health and wellness of residents.
For every dollar spent at a conventional grocery store, 16 cents goes back into the local economy. However, when shopping at the farmers’ market, more than 60 cents of each dollar stays within the local economy and 99 cents stays within the state. In addition, those who have a farmers’ market in their community are more likely to consume the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, a key factor in reducing the risk of obesity and chronic disease.
With the goal of increasing business for local farmers and improving the health of our communities, a regional group formed in early 2015 to discuss ways to support local farmers and farmers markets. This training series is the third effort by this regional group. To register, please contact Kenny Porzio at 434-797-8961 or porziks@danvilleva.gov.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension, the City of Danville, the Pittsylvania County Office of Agricultural Development and the Danville Regional Foundation are coordinating the trainings.
The schedule is as follows:
All trainings will be held at the Community Room in the Danville Community Market at 661 Craghead St. They will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. There is no cost, but reservations are required.
Session 1: Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Enhancing the Safety of Locally Grown Produce
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) - To Be or Not to Be?
Food Safety with VDACS and VDH
Session 2: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Veterinary Feed Directive
Starting a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program
Uninspected Meat Products
Session 3: Tuesday, April 26, 2016
SNAP
WIC/SFMNP (Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program)
Grant Funding for Farmers