 According to extension educator John Pike, the program will
start out with educational programming to highlight the basic
needs and expectations of commercial buyers. It will use the
MarketReady program, a U of I MarketMaker project that has been
designed to educate potential local suppliers about the variety
of expectations, certifications and other requirements that must
be met to satisfy the needs of the commercial buyer.
"We'll also address some food safety issues that are
important to the food supply chain," said Pike. "The rest of the
day will be spent with short presentations from a variety of
commercial buyers for grocery stores, restaurants and food
service companies who are interested in developing relationships
with local growers to source more local fruits and vegetables
and, potentially, meat."
Pike says the program will be useful for existing large
commercial growers who are looking to expand their markets as
well as for newer growers or people who are just thinking about
getting into the business, to help them identify potential
opportunities.
"It is also to help folks who are in the process of
developing their market plans for a new business or expansion to
decide whether the commercial market is a good fit for their
particular operation," Pike said.
A separate event at the same location will be a food hub
summit, organized by the Illinois Department of Commerce and
Economic Opportunity and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Rural Development--Illinois. That program will talk about
potential funding opportunities and options for developing food
hubs and aggregation centers around the state.
[to top of second column] |
Program schedule for "Meet the Buyers":
-
March 27, 8:30
a.m.-5 p.m., Champaign County Farm Bureau, 801 N. Country Fair
Drive, Champaign. RSVPs were to be made to 217-352-5235 by March
22.
-
April 4, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., John A.
Logan Community College, 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville.
RSVP to 618-993-2609 by March 30.
Program schedule for the food hub
summit:
-
March 27, 7-9
p.m., Champaign County Farm Bureau, 801 N. Country Fair Drive,
Champaign. RSVPs were to be made to 217-352-5235 by March 22.
-
April 4, 7-9 p.m., John A. Logan
Community College, 700 Logan College Drive, Carterville. RSVP to
618-993-2609 by March 30.
[Text from
news
release received from the
University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences]
 |
