The 2014 edition of the annual Direct Farm Marketing Conference and Tradeshow is coming to Steinbach March 7 and 8 and will be held at the Pat Porter Active Living Centre. The conference is targeted to Manitoba agri-tourism operators, market garden owners, fruit growers and farmers’ market vendors throughout the province.
Conference attendees will have a chance to hear from expert speakers about marketing, creating innovative attractions and promotions, branding their business, pricing their products, and production information. The conference also provides great opportunities for learning and networking with other members of the industry.
A tradeshow is also offered as part of the conference and provides attendees further opportunity to chat and network with industry experts and industry resources.
The conference moves to a different venue each year to allow access to business owners throughout the province. Recent venues include Portage la Prairie, Gimli and Dauphin. This year over 150 business owners are expected to attend.
“2014 marks the 19th year our association has held this conference”, says Waldo Thiessen, Executive Director of the Prairie Fruit Growers Association. “We’ve had a great working relationship with the staff at MAFRD (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development) over these past 19 years”, adds Thiessen.
The Direct Farm Marketing Conference is presented by the Prairie Fruit Growers Association and is well-attended by its members, but Thiessen stresses “Anyone involved in selling direct from their farm or at farmers’ markets is welcome and encouraged to attend the conference. It’s not just for fruit growers.” Thiessen and his family have operated Berry Hill Farm located approximately 3 km East of Altona for the past 45 years.
Anyone interested in attending the 2014 Direct Farm Marketing Conference & Tradeshow can register online or call 204-821-5322 for more information.
