US (NY): Very diverse local food marketing panels at 2014 Empire Farm Days

A 14-year-old farmer, executive chefs and seasoned produce growers will participate in local sales and procurement panels at the August 5-7, 2014 Empire Farm Days at Rodman Lott and Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY. The presentations in the Special Event Center at Lot 601 will offer food producers valuable information for selling their products to restaurants, at farmers’ markets, and through New York State procurement channels. Empire Farm Days is the largest outdoor agricultural show in the Northeastern U.S.

How to get your products on the menu

On Tuesday, August 5, at 1:30pm, chefs, restaurant owners and food producers will present information on how to get started selling to restaurants, what gets chefs’ attention, and how to maintain a strong supply-and-demand relationship.

Participants in the Tuesday panel include Executive Chef Andrew Chambers from the New York Wine and Culinary Center, Canandaigua, NY; Matt Riddett, Executive Chef of Empire Brewing Company, Syracuse, NY; and Rune Hilt, co-owner of the Red Dove Tavern, Geneva, NY.

Farmers’ markets tips & tricks for success

On Wednesday, August 6, at 1:30pm, Diane Eggert of the Farmers Market Federation of NY will moderate a panel with vegetable vendors, including Garrett Williams, a 14-year-old farmer of Garrett’s Market Place, Marion, NY; James Farr, director of the Rochester Farmers Market, Rochester, NY; and Patti Battley, Seneca Falls Farmers’ Market. They will talk about getting started, figuring out the unspoken rules, and how to be successful at the markets.

Selling food to New York State

On Thursday, August 7, at 1:30pm, a panel presentation on food procurement at the State level will be moderated by Empire State Fellow for Food and Agriculture with the New York State Executive Chamber Imran Khan with participants addressing how to develop and submit bids, how to contact ‘the right people,’ and how to navigate the state bidding process to take advantage of the contract opportunities.

Panellists for the Thursday program include Tom Facer with Farm Fresh First, a raw product supply chain service company serving the food processing and packing industries, Oakfield, NY; Dyane Smith with the Contract Management office of the New York State Office of Mental Health, Staten Island, NY; and Margaret Dutton with Nutritional Services office of the New York State Department of Correction Services.

Empire Farm Days Manager Melanie Wickham says, “Every year we develop new learning opportunities with panels and presentations that will help farmers connect with buyers, processors, suppliers and consumers. We are pleased this year to add a trio of panel programs for fresh food producers and growers interested in selling to large buyers and institutions.”

Empire Farm Days covers 300 acres with exhibits, demonstrations, seminars and activities to create the largest outdoor agricultural show in the Northeastern U.S. Find schedules and details at www.empirefarmdays.com or call 877-697-7837.