Harvest New England conference slated
Harvest New England conference slated
HARTFORD, CT -- Harvest New England has announced that its 2009 Agricultural Marketing & Trade Show will be held Feb. 24-26 at the Sturbridge Host Hotel in Sturbridge, MA.
"This conference is an excellent opportunity for agricultural producers to learn from some of the finest experts in the field about a diverse range of marketing topics," Robert Pellegrino, president of Harvest New England and director of marketing for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, said in a press release. "Our last conference attracted over 700 producers from all over New England, who provided extremely positive feedback about the event. We have taken their comments and incorporated them into our planning to make this conference even better."
Two pre-conference workshops -- to cover farmers markets and agritourism -- will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24. The main event kicks off Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, with "The Best of New England" session, featuring a panel with representatives from each of the six states.
Mel Allen, editor of Yankee magazine, will regale attendees Thursday morning with stories amassed over the years through his work at the popular publication.
Twenty breakout sessions, an optional half-day of farm tours and a trade show that is expected to draw over 100 vendors will round out the event. Topics to be covered include working with local officials, website development, community-supported agriculture, virtual marketing, cooperatives and energy conservation.
Harvest New England was created in 1992 by the departments of Agriculture in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The organization's original objective was to encourage the sale of New England produce to and through large supermarkets.
Over the past 16 years, Harvest New England has grown and diversified to meet the changing needs of New England producers and consumers. Although fresh local produce remains the primary focus, Harvest New England also promotes products such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey and maple syrup, specialty foods, greenhouse and nursery plants, Christmas trees and greens and farm-produced fiber and fiber products.
"This conference is an excellent opportunity for agricultural producers to learn from some of the finest experts in the field about a diverse range of marketing topics," Robert Pellegrino, president of Harvest New England and director of marketing for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, said in a press release. "Our last conference attracted over 700 producers from all over New England, who provided extremely positive feedback about the event. We have taken their comments and incorporated them into our planning to make this conference even better."
Two pre-conference workshops -- to cover farmers markets and agritourism -- will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24. The main event kicks off Wednesday morning, Feb. 25, with "The Best of New England" session, featuring a panel with representatives from each of the six states.
Mel Allen, editor of Yankee magazine, will regale attendees Thursday morning with stories amassed over the years through his work at the popular publication.
Twenty breakout sessions, an optional half-day of farm tours and a trade show that is expected to draw over 100 vendors will round out the event. Topics to be covered include working with local officials, website development, community-supported agriculture, virtual marketing, cooperatives and energy conservation.
Harvest New England was created in 1992 by the departments of Agriculture in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The organization's original objective was to encourage the sale of New England produce to and through large supermarkets.
Over the past 16 years, Harvest New England has grown and diversified to meet the changing needs of New England producers and consumers. Although fresh local produce remains the primary focus, Harvest New England also promotes products such as meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, honey and maple syrup, specialty foods, greenhouse and nursery plants, Christmas trees and greens and farm-produced fiber and fiber products.
