OK: CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON PLASTICULTURE PRODUCTION, SMALL FARMERS
News Date January 19, 2010
A conference for small farmers interested in growing produce for farmers markets, local school lunch programs and direct marketing will be held February 13 in Oklahoma City. Hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, the conference will cover a variety of topics.
“Food safety and marketing will be featured as will production practices such as soil building and irrigation,” said Micah Anderson, ODAFF plasticulture coordinator. “This is an excellent opportunity for producers to learn how to maximize their production and network with resource people and other producers.”
The food safety portion of the program will be important to producers who hope to market their commodities to local schools. Anderson said coordinators from the agriculture department’s Farm to School program, Market News Service and the Plasticulture program are working together on the conference.
Registration by January 29 is $15 per person or $25 per couple. After that, registration cost will increase to $25 per person and $45 per couple. Registration includes lunch and will be limited to 200 participants.
The conference will be held at the Bricktown Hotel and Convention Center at 2001 East Reno Ave. in Oklahoma City. To register, call (405) 522-4330. The full conference agenda will be posted on the Farm to School website next week at www.okfarmtoschool.com. (Contact: Jack Carson, 405-522-4575)