The Piedmont Grown Annual Conference is almost here -- Register online until 6pm Sunday!

On site registration will be available Monday morning beginning at 8:30!

This year's topic is Growing Your Farm and Food Business: Increasing Profitability -- something that we all want! Our keynote speaker is Chris Blanchard of Purple Pitchfork in Decorah, Iowa. Chris is a sought-after farming consultant, author and speaker who offers the practical wisdom of a farmer who has “been there.” As the owner and operator of Rock Spring Farm since 1999, Chris raised twenty acres of vegetables, herbs, and greenhouse crops, marketed through a 200-member year-round CSA, food stores, and farmers markets. He brings a fresh approach to farm and food business management along with down-to-earth information and honesty.

New this year: 9 breakout sessions to choose from! Curbside Consulting available for more in-depth advice and answers! An in-depth farmer-focused session on record-keeping as well as tour of the Lomax Incubator Farm.

Reserve your spot now! Pre-registration is encouraged -- registration by February 19 will guarantee that lunch will be included with your fee. Vegetarian options will be available. A limited number of walk-in spots will be available the morning of the conference, but lunch may not be available without prior registration.

Piedmont Grown Annual Conference

Growing Your Farm and Food Business: Increasing Profitability

Monday, February 23, 2015

North Carolina Research Center, Kannapolis, NC

8:30 Registration & Coffee

9:00 Welcome

Dani Rowland, President, Piedmont Grown & Co-Owner, Rowland’s Row Family Farm

9:15 Keynote: Scaling Up: Is It Right for You?

Chris Blanchard, Purple Pitchfork of Decorah, Iowa

10:00 Break & Networking

10:30 Breakout Session #1: (choose 1)

A) Social Media & the Bottom Line

• Traci Nachtrab, Lucky 3 Farm
• Grace Kanoy, GeoCore Films

B) Farming Without Losing Your Shirt (Food Safety and GAPs)

• Diane Ducharme, North Carolina State University
• Farmer TBD

C) Connecting Farmers, Food Businesses and Chef

• Kris Reid, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Piedmont Culinary Guild
• Isaiah Allen, Chef, Eddy Pub and co-owner, Rocky Run Farm

11:45 Lunch and networking – Lunch catered by Restaurant 46 featuring hearty soups and sandwiches using locally sourced ingredients

1:15 Breakout Session #2: (choose 1)

A) How Do You Know if You Are Making Money?

• William Lyons, Blue Bird Farm

B) Too Many Rutabagas: Time & Productivity Management for Farmers

• Chris Blanchard (Purple Pitchfork)

C) How I Built My Food Business

• Amber Lewis, Owner and CEO, ModPaleo

2:30 Break & Networking

3:00 Breakout Session #3: (choose 1)

A) Tour of the Lomax Incubator Farm

B) Farm Records: Capturing and Organizing Data for GAPs, Organic Certification, and Other Endeavors

• Chris Blanchard (Purple Pitchfork)
  

C) Curbside Consulting –Experts offer brief (15 minute) one-on-one consultations tailored to the participant’s needs and questions. Potential topics include:

• Social media
• Marketing
• Accounting software
• GAPs certification & audits
• Selling to restaurants
• Selling to wholesale
  

4:45 Closing Session- Wrap Up and Evaluation

Conference Registration fee includes new membership or annual membership renewal for 2015.

Check out our website online (www.piedmontgrown.org) to learn more about the certification process.

** Pre-Registration is encouraged and registration by February 19 guarantees a ticket for the catered lunch. A limited number of tickets may also be purchased at the door. Catered lunch may not be available for those who register the day of the event. **

Thanks to our sponsors!

Box Turtle Bakery * Peachtree Market * Homeland Creamery * Plum Granny Farm

Carrboro Coffee * BeNutty Bakes & Butters

To become an Event Sponsor please email info@piedmontgrown.org