Farmers Market Preparedness Webinars – April 2022
The Virginia Farmers Market Association partnered with Virginia State University Small Farm Outreach for a free series of Farmers Market Preparedness Trainings for Vendors in April. This three-workshop series focused on social media marketing, basic market preparedness, and food safety.
You’ll find links to the presentation slides and recordings below.
Social Media Marketing – Using Short Video Clips to Connect with Customers
In this webinar from April 13, 2022, Shannon Loy of The Social Ginger shares the ins and outs of using videos to connect with customers. She covers effective strategies, ideas for what to shoot, and thoughts on maintaining your privacy. She also shares tips for talking to a camera and for overcoming stage fright.
Market Day Prep for Farmers Market Success
Success at the farmers market starts well before you get to market. In the second webinar in the Farmers Market Preparedness series, we focus on being prepared for market day. We cover what you need to do, bring, and plan for to improve your sales at market — including legal considerations and vendor displays. You’ll leave the webinar with a checklist to use throughout the season.
Speakers
Michael Carter, Jr., Small Farm Resource Center Coordinator, VSU Small Farm Outreach Program
Kim Hutchinson, PhD, MBA, Executive Director, Virginia Farmers Market Association
Dr. Theresa J. Nartea, State Program Leader, Associate Professor, Extension Specialist-Marketing & Agribusiness, Virginia State University, Virginia Cooperative Extension
Lisa Dearden, Founder & Executive Director, RVAg
Slides/Presentations
Resources Mentioned
Virginia Farmers Market Association (VAFMA)
Farmers market advocacy, trainings, and other resources
Virginia State University Small Farm Outreach
Clearinghouse for education, resources and news to serve Virginia’s small and beginning farmers
VSU Small Farm Marketing and Business Program
Science based educational curriculum and direct technical support
RVAgriculture
Manages multiple farmers markets and a year-round online marketplace featuring a diverse line-up of growers and producers.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
Application for a Home Food Processing Operation
Application for a Commercial Kitchen Food Processing Operation
Virginia Food Laws
Guidelines for Providing Safe Food Samples at the Market
Going to Market Publication
Virginia Grown
Virginia Grown bags, banners and more
Weights and Measures
Certification of market scales
Virginia Department of Health
Contact your local health department
Virginia Small Business Development Center
MyRadar – weather app recommended by Lisa Dearden
Food Safety for Farmers Market Vendors
Recorded April 27, 2022
The third webinar in the Farmers Market Preparedness Series from the Virginia Farmers Market Association and Virginia State University Small Farm Outreach Program addresses food safety for farmers market vendors. Experts from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) cover when a food inspection is required, how to obtain an inspection, and the exemptions from inspection in the Virginia Food Laws. They also discuss hemp, CBD, food labeling, sampling, packaging and more.
Speakers include:
- Pam Miles, Program Supervisor, Food Safety Program, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Carol C. Puckett, Food Safety Consultant, Virginia Department of Health
- Michael Carter, Jr., Small Farm Resource Center Coordinator, VSU Small Farm Outreach Program
- Kim Hutchinson, PhD, MBA, Executive Director, Virginia Farmers Market Association
View Presentation Slides: