2018-19 Winter Trainings

Attention Farmers: Thinking about selling to food hubs, groceries, schools, cooperatives?   Learn about food safety, supply chain management, wash lines and more this winter at these trainings* selected just for you!

*This list will continue to be populated as more events are scheduled!

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course & Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop — CCE Dutchess County Farm & Home Center

December 6-7, 2018 (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Friday)

2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY 12545

Are you a farmer interested in produce safety? Are your markets asking for food safety plans or third party verification? Do you want to understand produce safety issues as they relate to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Food Safety Rule third party audits and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs)? Participation in this training will also help you to complete one of the requirements towards the New York State Grown and Certified labeling program which requires GAPs Certification. Join us for a multi-day workshop on food safety and leave with a food safety plan and training certificate for YOUR farm!

For more information or to register visit here or Contact Nancy Halas at nh26@cornell.edu or (845) 677-8223 x115

NOFA-NY Winter Conferences "Climates of Change"

Friday, January 18, 2019 7:00 AM to Sunday, January 20, 2019 1:00PM

Saratoga Hilton and City Center — 534 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866

Check out these relevant workshops....

  • Supply Chain Management For Small and Mid-size Farms- Silas Conroy and Ryn Adkins.
    What are supply chains and why are they important to small and mid-size farms? Whether you are a direct marketer or wholesale-focused farm, the fundamentals of supply chain management are critical to how you run your business. Silas Conroy and Ryn Adkins will discuss the universal principles of SCM and the tools used to optimally plan, source, grow, and deliver your product. They will demonstrate the supply chain perspective on classic decisions for farmers: How do I choose what to grow, how much to grow, and when to plant it? What are my customers’ product specifications and how do I meet their requirements? What distribution channels (direct-to-consumer, direct-to-store, distributor, etc.) are optimal for my product? What are the implications of order deadlines, delivery days, and order minimums? The presenters will also take time to address on-farm food safety and why it’s important for food supply chains.
  • Selecting Seed Cultivars for Success- Daniel Eggert.
    As a farmer, the fundamental purpose is to grow your inventory. Selecting the right seeds for the right market at the right time of year is a key to success. Fresh market, wholesale, storage, disease resistance, productivity are major components to consider. Join Daniel Eggert from Harris Seeds Organic on how to find what’s right for your farm.
  • Integrated Crop Planning with Tend- Jean-Martin Fortier, Stephan Garaffo, and Robert Dubois Jr.
    Having a static crop plan can get you only so far. When you use Tend, your plan is integrated throughout the software, so that your operations become streamlined. In this session we will explore the value your farm will get when you create robust crop plans using Tend. Jean-Martin Fortier will join the discussion to highlight the benefits Tend's features offer his own farm projects and how they will add value to your operation.
  • Wash Lines to Storage Buildings Intensive: Post-Harvest Construction Project
    In this half-day intensive Chris Callahan and a panel of growers will be discussing recent pack shed improvements.

Baskets to Pallets Regional Farmer Trainings - February/March - Dates, TBA

Two locations: Rochester, NY and Ulster County, NY

Are you looking to diversify sales beyond the farmers market, CSA and farm stand?    Food hubs, grocery stores, restaurants and cooperatives are looking for your products to meet growing consumer demand for local and sustainably-grown food.  Yet, doing successful business with wholesale buyers requires planning and preparation.  Ensure your success by joining us for ‘Baskets to Pallets’, a comprehensive two day introduction to selling wholesale.  The ‘Baskets to Pallets’ course is designed for farmers of all enterprises and will cover building relationships with buyers, customer management and record keeping, pricing, grading and packaging, uniformity and consistency, and food safety, among many other topics!  This fun course includes plenty of hands-on activities and opportunities for peer learning and small group discussion.  Day 2 of the course consists of a choice of break-out sessions to enable you to choose what is most useful to your farm.