Locally Grown Opportunities Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2008

University of Illinois Extension Hosts

Locally Grown Opportunities Conference

Friday, June 13

9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Augustana College

University of Illinois Extension is seeking local businesses and organizations with an interest in locally grown products such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, meats, and other agricultural products. If your business and the customers you serve have a demand for these locally grown products, University of Illinois Extension invites you or a representative of your business to attend the conference at Augustana College on Friday, June 13 from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.

The Locally Grown Opportunities conference will bring together local producers, distributers, and businesses. The conference is intended to identify the needs and demands of local businesses for locally grown products, to increase the number of markets for local producers, and to develop a network of local businesses working with local producers. Simply put, we want to know what your business's needs are, and we want to connect you with a network of local producers who can help meet those demands.

This conference will give participants a chance to see what other businesses are successfully accomplishing. For example, Augustana College is incorporating locally grown food into their dining services. We would like to invite local grocery stores, restaurants, florists, and other businesses to express their desires and demands for locally grown products. Local producers will be there to listen to the needs of local businesses.

People value locally grown, fresh produce. If you believe your business could benefit from selling locally grown products, you are invited to attend. Participants should come prepared to discuss the unique needs of their business. For example, each month our grocery store sells this many tomatoes, this much lettuce, this many apples; or our restaurant needs 500 peppers each month, etc.

If you have questions please contact Peter Chege, Horticulture Specialist at University of Illinois Extension 309-792-2500. You may register for the conference online at the Rock Island County Extension web site: www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland or call (309) 796-0512.

Conference Details.

When: 9 am -2 pm Friday, June 13

Where: Augustana College in 102 Science Building, Rock Island, IL.

Registration: register on-line www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland or call 309-342-5108

Registration fee: $30 includes lunch featuring locally grown food

Schedule:

9-10:00 – The conference will begin by going around the room with introductions. This is your opportunity to identify your business and its demand for locally grown products.

10-10:30 – Jerry Moore, Branch Manager with Loffredo Fresh Produce Co., Inc. will discuss logistics and distribution information to help growers get their produce to your business

10:30-11:15 – Jim Slama, founder of FamilyFarmed.org will discuss quality, packaging, and handling

11:15-noon – Chris Hilgert, horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension, will discuss the economics of growing fruits and vegetables

Lunch served in the Atrium of the Science Building.

1-2:00 – Open discussion of opportunities, questions, and networking between businesses and producers