PORT TOWNSEND — WSU Extension and the WSDA Small Farm and Direct Marketing Program are offering three workshops for fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop farms and buyers to meet customer needs and expand sales on the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas.
The first workshop, in Sequim on March 23, will be about wholesale success.
The second workshop, scheduled for March 24 in Quilcene, covers good agricultural practices with a farm walk.
The third workshop, set for North Kitsap on April 4, connects small farmers with other fruit and vegetable farmers and buyers on this “mobile workshop” tour to demystify direct, local buying.
Registration is open at wsda.eventbrite.com.
Wholesale success
This workshop will be held at John Wayne Marina, 2577 W. Sequim Bay Road, and is not just for wholesale growers. It is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23.
Atina Diffley builds capacity of farmers at all scales to meet the burgeoning demand for locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Learn how to meet buyers’ expectations with best practices for post-harvest handling, packing, grading, food safety and business management.
Learn strategies to become more efficient and profitable.
A Wholesale Success Manual is included with registration.
Agricultural practices
The next event starts with a farm walk at Dharma Ridge Farm, 780 Boulton Farm Road, Quilcene, from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 24.
The second half of the day is at the Jefferson County Library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.
Buyers increasingly require on-farm food safety assurances.
Learn how to expand market access by learning best practices for food safety on the farm.
Prepare for a voluntary GAP audit and new FDA Produce Safety Rules with this farm walk and working session led by WSDA educators and GAP auditors.
Buying tour, meetup
The final workshop is in North Kitsap, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday, April 4.
The details of this event will be given to registrants.
Connect with other fruit and vegetable farmers and buyers on this “mobile workshop” tour that will demystify direct, local buying.
Site visits and presentations from local farms and food businesses will explore the ins and outs of successful direct sales relationships, with plenty of time for farmers and buyers to talk directly about their products and sourcing needs.
This event is for specialty crop farmers, processors, and buyers from grocery and specialty food stores, restaurants, brew pubs, farmers markets, produce stands, food service at universities and institutions, school nutrition services and food industry professionals.
Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and special needs who contact the office at least two weeks prior to the event.
Extension programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through the local extension office.
For more information, phone Kellie Henwood, Regional Small Farms Coordinator for the WSU Extension-Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties, at 360-379-5610, ext. 201, or email kellie.henwood@wsu.edu.
