Press Release: IFMA 2015 Farmers Market Conferences in Chicago and Springfield
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2015
Springfield, IL. – The Illinois Farmers Market Association (IFMA) is sponsoring two Farmers Market Conferences this March in Chicago and Springfield. The theme for both conferences this year is “Scaling up for Success – Measuring Growth and Impact”.
Dar Wolnik, Independent Trainer and Researcher for Public Markets & Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) Market Programs Advisor, will be the keynote speaker for both conferences. She will be discussing how best farmers markets can communicate their value to their communities. Darlene worked for 10 years at the New Orleans’ famous marketumbrella.org, creating and running their direct marketing outlets for farmers, and designing their ground-breaking marketshare project, which builds resources for public markets everywhere.
Both conferences are similar in content and geared towards market managers, farmers, vendors, and friends of the market. They will provide unique opportunities for attendees to learn what they can do to increase their business and market’s odds of success, share best practices, and improve their resources. Roundtable discussions will cover such topics as the proposed new food safety rules, the new statewide food sampling permit, new SNAP EBT changes, increasing and retaining vendors and how market managers can help improve their vendors’ success.
The Chicago Conference will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015. IFMA is proud to be part of this year’s Good Food Festival & Conference at the University of Illinois Chicago. “Scaling Up for Success” will be held during Festival Day, which comes at the end of the FamilyFarmed’s important three-day educational event.
Visit the Good Food Festival and Conference website for more information about the events. www.goodfoodfestivals.com
The Springfield Conference will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at the State House Inn in Springfield. .
This conference is being held to team up with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s (ISA) “Local Food Lobby Day” which is happening on the following day, Wednesday, March 25th. Wes King, Executive Director of ISA, will provide a special Advocacy Training session for those wishing to participate in Local Food Lobby Day.
The number of famers markets has grown in Illinois by over 300% over the last 15 years. There were 378 farmers markets registered on the Department of Agriculture website in 2014, making Illinois the third largest state in number of markets in the country. While growth is good, it also requires more management and oversight by both farmers and market managers. The success of every market depends on scaling: on sustaining and enhancing its effectiveness as it adds more farmers, customers and or locations. These conferences will focus on discovering pockets of excellence and connecting the people who have it, and their ideas and expertise to others.
Learn more about IFMA and membership (click this link)
IFMA is dedicated to the growth and management of farmers markets throughout our state, serving the needs and interests of managers, farmers, vendors, customers and all stakeholders in local, community markets. Its mission is to provide educational farmers, vendors and other community food and nutrition organizations through partnerships, resource-sharing, and training on best management practices, operating procedures, and state regulations through workshops, webinars, and various social marketing venues.
CONTACT: Pat Stieren, Executive Director, IFMA ,
For registration details, visit https://ilfarmersmarkets.org/