Are the producers in your area prepared to sell local food to restaurants, grocery stores and other wholesale buyers?
If not, help them take advantage of the growing interest in local foods by inviting them to the Retail Ready workshops in Ohio.
The first workshop is Tuesday, March 9th at the Ohio 4-H Center. The other workshops are in March and April in various areas throughout the state ˆ see attached.
Retail Ready is a new program the Direct Marketing Team is bringing to Ohio, in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, local partners,∑ ODA is providing the funding and coordination for this initial program roll-out and the program is evolving through the national MarketMaker network, the Ohio Food Policy Council, Market Connections Task Force and others. A number of Extension personnel have been involved in the development of the program and the plans for this initial roll-out.
Here is a brief overview from Tim Woods ˆ Univ. of KY ˆ who initiated this program.
Retail Ready is a program designed to facilitate best commercial business practices between growers and various retail markets. Growth in demand for local foods, together with the growth in direct marketing by smaller-scale producers amplifies the need for grower training on what buyers are needing to more readily fit into their buying conventions. Most buyers are anxious to work with local growers to market their local products, but have also expressed frustration at the lack of grower awareness of their preferred buying practices. This training should help growers and retailers build more successful market relationships. Retail Ready training was developed with generous assistance from the National MarketMaker program and the University of Arkansas Applied Sustainability Center.
Producers will evaluate their readiness by reviewing resources and a checklist of various topics related to how to package, label, price, invoice, deliver, meet quality and insurance standards, and much more.
Hope that you and your producers can join us for one of these workshops.
Regional Retail Ready Trainings Info
Tags: Grocery Stores, local producers, Restaurants, selling local food