Workshop on food service markets

The Leopold Center is helping to sponsor a one-day workshop for farmers interested in selling produce to hotels, food services, and hospital and school cafeterias.

The January 24 workshop, "Institutional Markets: Supply Chain Development and Risk Management Strategies," will be at the Hotel at Gateway Center in Ames.

Guest speakers include:

• Michael Rozyne, Red Tomato, Canton, Massachusetts, a non-profit broker of sustainably raised fruits and vegetables serving a three-state area;
• Rink DaVee, Homegrown Wisconsin, a cooperative that includes 25 farm families in south central Wisconsin;
• Rick Hartmann, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), who has worked with local farmers, conference centers and caterers to supply food for "All-Iowa" meals, and
• Bob Parrish, food service buyer for Iowa State University Residence Halls.

The workshop is one of several activities that are part of the Practical Farmers of Iowa annual conference January 24-25. Other workshop sponsors are PFI, the USDA's Risk Management Agency and Iowa State University Extension. Workshop cost, which includes lunch, is $15 if paid before January 10. Non-PFI members must pay an additional $25, which includes a one-year membership. For more information, contact Sandra Trca-Black (515) 232-5662, ext. 101, or go to the PFI web site.

Back to Winter 2002 Leopold Letter