Buy Local Food In Kitsap

Are you interested in farming and selling vegetables?  The best tip I could give you right now would be to consider attending the Washington State Farmers Market Association’s Annual Conference and Trade Show, “Growing Green.” It’s on Friday and Saturday, January 30 & 31st and it’s being held this year in Puyallup at the Pavilion Building on the Fairgrounds.
Here’s your chance to learn what’s new on the farm scene. There’s concern right now about practices used while raising, harvesting and handling vegetables with regard to food safety. It’s expected that we may see some regulations put into play in the near future and here’s your chance to be on the inside track to be informed about concerns that exist and what you can do to protect your customers and yourself.

On Friday, after opening speakers and a round table session entitled “Our Challenges and Solutions for 2009” open the conference, we will break out to three different sessions. To address the farmers attending is Dr. Karen Killinger from Washington State University and she will lead 3 continuing sessions entitled “Good Agricultural Practices.” Dr. Killinger could not answer my questions last November during the Focus on Farming conference in Lynnwood. She promised to have answers for this event so I’ll be there with my notebook and armed with more questions! I am really looking forward to hear her presentation.

The second day gets even more exciting. For anyone from a novice to the most experienced, you will be enlightened by hearing first hand, on site, Terry Carkner discuss and show you how they grow year round at their farm. I have visited Terry’s farm a number of times and every time I leave energized with more information. She and her husband, Dick, have built several economical hoop houses they have successfully used for a number of seasons. This last winter was tough on them with the heavy snows but they survived and are preparing for the new season. I’m taking my camera as well as note pad to get every bit of info I can to bring back home and put into practice.

If an individual can not attend the conference both days, they can enroll for just one day. But, if you can attend both days, you are in for a wealth of information. There will be exhibitors there representing a range of interest that include Osbourne Seed Company, The Pike Place Market, our state’s organic certification program, insurance needs, the Agriculture Business Center, USDA, the Cascade Land Conservancy, and a market supply company. This is the place to get your questions answered. There are many educational opportunities plus networking, eating good food, and having fun. I hope to see you there.

For more complete information, log on to the Washington. State. Farmers Market Association website at: www.wafarmersmarkets.com