UACES Facebook “Homegrown Profits 2016” workshop coming to Little Rock, offers producers info on marketing
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'Homegrown Profits 2016' workshop coming to Little Rock, offers producers info on marketing

By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Feb. 5, 2016

Fast Facts:

  • Workshop will offer advice from farmers and marketers on range of topics
  • Panels will focus on farm-to-school markets, small animal markets and others
  • Cost is $10, register by Feb. 18 

(318 words) 

LITTLE ROCK — Farmers, nutritionists and anyone else interested in learning about marketing and expanding profits for specialty crops will want to attend Homegrown Profits 2016: Expanding & Diversifying to Maximize Profits, the Feb. 22 workshop hosted by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Arkansas Farm Bureau. 

Several panels will address current topics that are impacting specialty crop farmers, including the farm-to-school (F2S) market. Panels will feature farmers who are currently selling produce to schools in their communities, school nutritionists who are buying from them, and representatives from organizations in the state who are leading the F2S movement. 

The workshop will be held at University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension headquarters at 2301 S. University Avenue. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the workshop running from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

In response to growing interest among specialty crop farmers, another expert panel will discuss the profitability of “small animals” including poultry, rabbits, sheep, goats and bees. Don’t miss this chance to learn more about these potential income streams.  

A panel comprised of farmers who have successfully added value added products and year round income to their offerings — along with University of Arkansas food processing specialists — will highlight the “Plan. Produce. Profit” workshops offered by the University of Arkansas Food Innovation Center in Fayetteville. 

“We believe a trend is emerging where large scale farmers are looking at planting specialty crops," Beverly Dunaway, an extension program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and Arkansas MarketMaker representative, said. “Even if a large scale farmer has not yet planted any specialty crops, they would benefit from participating in this workshop because it will provide a well-informed and well-rounded view of the state of specialty crop farming in Arkansas.”  

Online registration for the workshop is now open at http://forms.uada.edu/registrations/HP2016.asp and will close at end of day on Feb. 18. The cost of the workshop is $10, and can be paid online or upon arrival at the workshop. For more information and/or for late registration, call 501-650-0981.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

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