Join us for a virtual panel discussion meeting where panelists will share their marketing enterprise, why and how it came to be, and what it takes for groups of farmers to work together to improve their marketing opportunities. Then the floor will be open for Q/A and discussion with the audience. The goal of this effort is to learn about these types of marketing alternatives, what it took to put them together, and maybe get interest enough from those attending to explore new collaborations. 

Featured panelists:

Stick and Stone Farm - Full Plate Collective, Ithaca, NY
Owned by Stick and Stone Farm and Remembrance Farm, two of the Ithaca area's largest organic farms. Each farm maintains their own independent business, wholesale, unique specialty crops and more, coming together to create shares and community as the Full Plate Farm Collective! Each farm contributes about half of the weekly CSA shares; together they produce about 90% of the food for the CSA. They don't do it alone! It is Community Supported Agriculture, after all: "The collective model allows us to work with and support many more great fellow-producers in the Ithaca area! We commit to buying crops early in the year, much like our members do for us. Their contributions enrich share variety and support crop security, backing each other up when yields are down."

Earth's Palate Farm + Northwest Connecticut Food Hub - Renee Giroux, Warren, CT
Earth's Palate Farm is nestled on 40 acres which includes 4 greenhouses with a small plot of field production for heirloom vegetables and honeybees during the summer months. Tender greens and vegetables are grown year-round in the greenhouses. In addition to the produce, they raise 100 egg layers, meat birds on pasture and heritage pork: "We have embraced the concepts of regenerative agriculture at the onset of beginning our farm. Let this time bring us closer together as a community of friends and neighbors. As farmers we are bred to stoke confidence and resilience. It's important to know - more than ever - where your food comes from. …The Northwest Connecticut Regional Food Hub works with farmers all over northwest Connecticut picking up their fresh, locally grown produce and delivering it to happy wholesale customers such as schools, grocery stores, and restaurants. Proud to collaborate with Connecticut Veteran owned and operated farms."

Deep Root Organic Cooperative - Bruce Kaufman, Johnson, VT
Founded in 1985, Deep Root Organic Cooperative is one of the oldest co-ops of organic vegetable growers in the United States: "The co-op exists to promote local, sustainable, and organic agriculture through its small, family-owned farms. Due to our size and the variety of our member farms, we offer a wide range of products available throughout the year. We thank you for your support with the purchase of our products. We connect the farmer and the customer, delivering the best local organic produce and value-added products to retail establishments, co-ops, restaurants, and institutions."

COST: FREE!

REGISTRATION: You must pre-register to receive the Zoom link to this event. To register, email Robert Hadad (include your name and farm name). The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants prior to the meeting.

This event is organized by Robert Hadad, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program, and Elizabeth Henderson, NOFA-NY. For more information, contact Robert Hadad. We don't sell or give away contact information. We do occasionally send out information on programs, alerts, or questions pertaining to marketing.