Clark County Farmer-Buyer

Mobile Workshop & Business Networking Event  

Thursday, September 7th, 2017

8:30am-3:30pm

Vancouver, WA

Many small to mid-sized diversified fruit and vegetable farms and food businesses are interested in selling products to local grocery, restaurant, and foodservice customers but building that customer base requires understanding buyers’ needs and building relationships. This is an opportunity for Clark County specialty crop* farmers to ask local buyers questions about their needs and interests, share information about your farm, and start the planning for this or next year’s sales and for buyers to support local Clark County producers and products. Let's build on the great work done in Clark County food system by supporting family farms, building the connections needed to raise the profile of Clark County agriculture.

The Clark County Farmer-Buyer Mobile Workshop & Buisness Networking Event will offer farmers and local buyers the opportunity to meet casually and talk directly about products. A mobile workshop tour will demystify buying direct from local producers with visits to farms, food buisnesses and food processors. The day will also include a locally sourced lunch and panel presentation at Nonavo Pizza. The day will culminate in an informal networking session with a special breakout portion on the Clark County Grown Certification by Slow Food SW Washington.

Who should attend? Specialty Crop* Farmers & Food Businesses | Grocery Buyers | Chefs | Restaurant, Brewery, Winery Owners | Campus Food Services | School Nutrition Directors | Food Processors | Distributors | Food Industry Staff| Farmers Market Managers | Food Pantries

*USDA defines specialty crops as fruits, vegetables tree nuts, dried fruits and vegetables, herbs, horticulture and nursery crops

This event is hosted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture's FARM Team in partnership with WSU Extension Clark County & Slow Food SW Washington.

Funding provided by a WSDA Specialty Crop Block Grant and WSU Extension Clark County

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FAQ's

Is there a fee to attend?

Yes, the cost to register is $5 which has been offset from our regular cost of $15-20 in that participants are responsible for their own parking. Please see the parking section below for more information. The $5 registration will guarentee you a wonderfully sourced local lunch, transportation for the morning tour, resources from agencies and organizations invested in local agriculture and lots of great advice from experts and peers on building successful buying and selling realtionships. 

Is transportation provided for the tour?

Yes, we will all travel together in a chartered bus.  Allow the driver to get you there while you use the travel time to ask questions and explore what goes into successful local sourcing relationships. 

Where should I meet for the tour?

You are welcome to arrive as early as 8:00am. Resource PRoviders are encouraged to arrive at 8:00am to drop off materials. Farms and Businesses should arrive no later than 8:30am for check-in and to drop off any materials (see more in How should I prepare? and What should I bring? sections below). The tour will leave and return Nonavo Pizza prompltly at 9am. Nonavo is located in downtown Vancouver and is where our Lunchtime Panel and afternoon Networking Session will be held. 

Is there parking?

Parking is available at nearby Diamond Parking Garages at 601 Main St and 714 Main St as well as The City of Vancouvers Lot #18 Park 'n Go Vancouver Center Garage at W 6th St and Columbia St. The daily cost to park at these lots is under $10. We have offset the cost of this event due to the cost of parking being the responsibility of attendees

I can’t be there for the full day. Can I attend just a portion?

The day is designed to be unified event with the Mobile Workshop culminating in the afternoon Business Networking. However, we welcome those who are not able to attend the Mobile Workshop Tour to join us for the Lunchtime Panel and afternoon Business Networking. The cost for attending either portion of the day remains the same ($5).  

What is the Morning Mobile Workshop?

The Mobile Workshop will allow you to see behind the scenes at local farms, food buisnesses and future distribution sites. You will have a chance to see their operations and learn about their products and sales strategies. During all of this time you will be able to talk and form relationships with other farmers and buyers attending the tour.  

What is the Afternoon Lunch Panell & Business Networking?

This is the best type of networking: structured to be fun, low-pressure, and productive. After short presentation and tour of Nonavo Pizza - a locally sourced lunch will be provided. While you enjoy lunch, a panel of experts and peers will discuss the components to a successful buyer-seller relationship. Following, we will have a fun “dynamic networking activity” that’s all about connecting people for quick, personal conversations to talk directly about buyer and producer needs or offerings. If you are seeking new markets or new products, this is a great time to make connections. If you are considering new ideas for your business in the future, this is a time to ask questions, gather information, and learn.

The afternoon Business Networking offers the opportunity for meetings between buyers and producers to discuss needs and products. The timing is good to explore needs, sales commitments, and plans for next growing season.  This is also a good opportunity for farmers to learn about markets they might grow into and for buyers to become familiar with options for very local products.This is also time to simply connect and share ideas with other farmers and resource providers.  

What is the Clark County Grown Certification Breakout Session?

Durring the networking session, Slow Food SW Washington will provide information on their Clark County Gown Certification Program. See www.clarkcountygrown.org for more information. 

How should I prepare for this event?

While this will not be a formal trade meeting event, it never hurts to come prepared with any sales and marketing materials you have that tell the story of your farm/business and provide buyers or other farms with a good sense of you and your story. Photographs, information to promote your products to customers, product availability and pricing (a fresh sheet), descriptions of packaging, order and deliver process, example invoices, and product samples, are all very helpful. You are welcome to leave these materials, including small product samples at Nonavo in the morning before loading on the bus. Please bring these items in at 8:30am. 

One-on-One Direct Technical Assistance is available to get your farm/food business ready for this event. Please contact Katie Lynd at klynd@agr.wa.gov with your questions, concerns, or just to talk through strategies!  

What else should I bring?

For the Mobile Tour, please dress appropriately to be outside on a farm for much of the day. Please bring ID and cash for the no-host bar/beverages during lunch.Also, consider bringing your business cards and curiosity, at a minimum!

How formal is this event?

This is an informal event.  Please come as you are. We want you to have learn, network, and have fun!