Specialty Crop producers are invited to sign-up for FREE training cohorts designed to help Rhode Island specialty crop producers make the most of 6 major sales channels: Farmers Markets, Food Hubs, Restaurants, Online retail, & Grocery retail.
“This covered all the nitty-gritty that I needed to know to get started as a small farm business. I was really overwhelmed when I first started out, and this course helped to clarify so much of what I needed to do and resources that I could use.” — Cohort Participant, 2023″
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- RI Food Policy Council brings back the highly coveted Virtual Specialty Crop Training Series!
- Join the virtual classroom every Wednesday from January 31 to March 6 at 5:30pm – 8:30pm
- Hear from over 15 experts with insights unique to your specialty crop business
- Learn how to create a one-page business plan, legal, production, branding, finance, sales channels, and more!
AGENDA:
Wednesdays from 5:30pm – 8:30pm Virtual | January 31 – March 6
Session 1: January 31
Business Model Canvas (one-page business plan)
with Maggie Longo, Small Business Development Center
Session 2: February 7
Legal/Regulatory
with: Kristen Cordeiro and Gabriela Bannon, Office of the RI Secretary of State
Everett Petronio, Corporate Structure, Kalander & Nash Law
Leo Lebeuf, Taxpayer Experience Liaison, Department of Taxation
Cathy Feeney, Department of Health
Ken Ayars, Department of Environmental Management
Session 3: February 14
Production
with Nathan Bonds, Polaris MEP
Session 4: February 21
Branding & Labeling
with Jackie Duhamel, Bootblack Brand & Firebox Creative
Session 5: February 28
Finance (Costing, Pricing, Budget, Forecasting & Capital Access)
with Maggie Longo, Small Business Development Center
Session 6: March 6
Farmers Market Sales Channels
with: Katie Blais, Mount Hope Farmers Market
Eva or Valerie, Food Hubs, Farm Fresh RI
Stephanie Bush Pike, Farm to School, Rhode Island Department of Education
David Dadekian, Restaurants
Lori Giuttari, Online, Shop Local RI
Mike Mowry, Stores / Retail, Hope & Main
In-Person Celebration: March 9
hosted by Josh Daly, Associate Director, Rhode Island Food Policy Council