The 2013 Direct Farm Marketing Conference will held in Dauphin on March 8 and 9 and will help rural entrepreneurs discover new marketing concepts, better understand market trends and develop business ideas. This announcement was made by Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Ron Kostyshyn.
“The Direct Farm Marketing Conference is an excellent opportunity to connect industry experts and their knowledge with Manitoba farmers and rural residents interested in marketing their own produce or launching home-based businesses,” said Kostyshyn.
The conference will include sessions on producing and marketing fruit, developing a greenhouse system, building a brand name and pricing for profit.
Keynote speakers will include Hugh McPherson, a farmer with over 15 years of experience in diversifying his farm to include entertainment. McPherson’s session will be called Real Experiences of an Entertainment Farmer. Steve Langston, whose Dirty T-Shirt Productions helps businesses and organizations tell their stories using video and the Internet, will present Tailwind Experiences of a Prairie Harvest Bike Tourist.
The Direct Farm Marketing Conference program will also include a trade show where experienced and new entrepreneurs can promote products and services, network with customers and learn from other business-minded participants.
“The Direct Farm Marketing Conference is complement to our province’s other business development resources such as our local produce guide, Manitoba food and organic directories, and business training opportunities, which are all geared to help Manitoba businesses succeed,” said Kostyshyn.
Full conference registration cost is $135. Early bird registration (before Feb. 8) is $110. More information about the conference and registration is available from local Growing Opportunities (GO) offices, by telephone at 204-867-6572 or online at www.directfarmmarketing.com.
