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The Michigan Farmers Markets Association (MIFMA) is hosting its annual Michigan
Farmers Market Conference – “Celebrating Farmers Market Milestones”
<http://mifma.org/conference/>, on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 7 and 8,
2017 at the Plant and Soil Sciences Building on the campus of Michigan
State University in East Lansing, Michigan.

This year’s event expects to bring together more than 200 individuals to
celebrate MIFMA’s 10th anniversary and the many milestones that the
Michigan farmers market community reached over the last 10 years. The 2017
conference is structured to meet the needs of farmers markets in Michigan
and provide education and resources for market managers and the farmers and
vendors who sell at markets.

Register Now
<https://mifma.z2systems.com/np/clients/mifma/eventRegistration.jsp?event=111&>

Conference Tracks:
Three educational tracks will be offered at the conference, building upon
information attendees found helpful from last year’s conference and
providing up-to-date information on timely topics related to farmers market
management and direct marketing.

1) Beginning Market Manager Track – designed for beginning market managers.
Sessions Include: Starting a Farmers Market in Michigan; Recruiting and
Retaining Farmers and Vendors; Getting Paid What Your Worth: Results of
MIFMA’s Market Manager Compensation Study; Food Safety at Farmers Markets:
MDARD Licensing and Regulations; Farmers Market Advocacy: Building Support
for What’s Important to You.

2) Advanced Market Manager Track – for market managers who are looking for
specialized information. Sessions Include: Preparing and Presenting an
Annual Market Report; Dollars and Sense: Basic Financial Recordkeeping;
Building Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Farmers Markets; Engaging Youth in
the Future of Farmers Markets; Food Safety at Farmers Markets: Strategies
for Conducting Cooking Demos and Food Samples.

3) Farmer and Vendor Track – designed for farmers and vendors who sell at
farmers markets. Sessions Include: Peppers, Cucumbers, Basil and More:
Summer Hoophouse Crop Options that Aren’t Tomatoes; Tour of the Michigan
State University Meat Lab; Food Safety at Farmers Markets: Cottage Food
Labeling Workshop; Marketing Your Small Farm; Food Trucks, Inside and Out.

Conference Social:
MIFMA will host a Conference Social on Tuesday, March 7 from 6:00 p.m. –
8:00 p.m., following the first day of the conference, in the Conservatory
of the Plant & Soil Sciences Building. This casual networking event will
feature live music, refreshments, and a selection of food items from local
food companies. Tickets for the Social are $25 per person and can be
purchased during conference registration or by contacting the MIFMA office
at 517-432-3381.

SNAP Training and On-site Authorization:
By accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits,
farmers markets can increase healthy food access in their communities while
drawing more customers to the market and increasing vendor sales. Farmers
market interested in accepting SNAP benefits during the 2017 market season,
distributed via the Michigan EBT Bridge Card, can meet one-on-one with USDA
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) representatives who will be on-site to
answer questions, as well as to review and approve market applications.
Those not able to attend the full conference can still make an appointment
by calling the MIFMA office to register at 517-432-3381.

Conference Cost:
MIFMA members receive a 50% discount on the full-day conference
registration as part of their *membership benefits
<http://mifma.org/get-involved/join/>*and pay $100 for the full conference
or $75 for one day only (or $75 for the full conference and $35 for one day
only for MIFMA student members). Non-members will pay $200 for the full
conference or $100 for one day only. Registration for the conference will
close at 9:00 a.m. on February 27, 2017.

Register Now
<https://mifma.z2systems.com/np/clients/mifma/eventRegistration.jsp?event=111&>

For more information on the Michigan Farmers Market Conference, visit
www.mifma.org/conference or call 517-432-3381.

-- 
*Samantha Collins*
Communications and Events Manager
Michigan Farmers Market Association
480 Wilson Road, Room 172
East Lansing, MI 48824
517.432.3381


*www.mifma.org <http://www.mifma.org>*

*MIFMA Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/michiganfarmersmarketassociation>*

*MIFMA Twitter* <http://twitter.com/farmersmarketmi>


*Get under the umbrella! *

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