Workshop to help growers reach their markets

Published: March 28, 2013

image by: S.C. MarketReady

COLUMBIA — An upcoming workshop for farmers, growers and food producers will help launch a new program in South Carolina for businesses that want to sell to local restaurants and grocers.

The S.C. MarketReady program, a partnership between Clemson Extension, the S.C. Department of Agriculture and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is holding a one-day workshop April 17 to help food suppliers succeed in the modern marketplace. This workshop originally was scheduled for Feb. 27.

The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Phillips Market Center at the S.C. State Farmers Market, 3501 Charleston Highway in West Columbia.

The cost to attend is $30 per participant, which includes lunch and program materials. Click here to register online. The deadline to register is April 10. For more information, contact Blake Lanford at 843-365-6715, ext. 115, or blakel@clemson.edu.

The MarketReady training program addresses the wide array of issues and challenges operators of small farms and ranches must manage as they seek to develop supplier relationships with restaurants, grocery stores, wholesalers and foodservice buyers.

Training is based on business practices identified by buyers in these markets that are actively seeking to engage local suppliers. MarketReady helps vendors that sell dairy products, fruits, meats and vegetables and other goods design and implement a successful business strategy.

Subjects covered during the workshop will include: communication and relationship-building, packaging, labeling, pricing, delivery, storage, invoicing, insurance and marketing, among others.

A similar workshop will be held in Spartanburg April 22.

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