Producer Marketing Workshops
Local Food for Local Families
Producer Marketing Workshops
January-March 2023
Hopa Mountain, Mission West Community Development Partners, Local Food Marketplace, Livingston Food Resource Center, Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, Western Montana Growers Cooperative, Great Northern Development Corporation, and the Montana Food Bank Network are hosting an online producer marketing series, created by local food producers for local food producers! These peer-to-peer marketing workshops allow producers to gather together to share lessons learned, build friendships and support Montana farmers and ranchers to market local businesses and increasingly build networks to bring local food to local families. Take a lunch break and come gather around our virtual kitchen table.
Zoom Meeting link for all workshop series: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88564637160?pwd=TFJLelpCZDkzdFhsVERzSUZkamwwQT09
Meeting ID: 885 6463 7160
Passcode: 064903
January 11: Noon-1pm
Dave and Karen Shockey of Muddy Creek Ranch will discuss how knowledge becomes exponentially amplified in producer-to-producer Field Day events. Learn how “field days are more than the sum of the parts” from their July 2022 on-ranch event. Gain practical ideas for speakers, and how field days create an environment for new learning to emerge for everyone.
January 18: Noon-1pm
Shauna Farver, owner of Farver Farms, produces Lentil Crunchers Snacks made with lentils they grow and process in their FDA licensed facility. Shauna will share about their recent expansion of the facility and discuss how they are navigating their expansion into wholesale and distributor accounts while still maintaining close connections with their end consumers.
February 8: Noon-1pm
Shauna Stephenson of Good Mama Farm shares her ‘in the weeds’ experience creating a women-led producer food hub in Harrison Montana. This workshop is for others interested in exploring “How we got started and what are we learning” about community food hub startup. (Local Food for Local Families is offering a Food Hub Training Series Feb 7 – March 21, 2023 via Zoom as well!)
February 15: Noon-1pm
Mary Tuck of Kalispell Kreamery is in the unique position to give an overview of vertically integrated dairy operations. Kalispell Kreamery will discuss the steps it has taken to secure a market in the dairy industry from raw milk production in a small dairy state to being competitive in the big grocery store dairy markets. Focus will be on balancing and maintaining consumer trust with a smaller brand.
March 8: Noon-1pm
Adam Zimmer of Warrior Meats and Grocery will discuss how community revitalization and local food go hand-in-hand. Adam will share information about how their meat processing operation, tribal farm and garden developments, rural community grocery store, and partnership with the Northern Cheyenne Food pantry build sustainable business relationships that supply high quality food to their community.
March 15: Noon-1pm
Winter Kissed Farm– Max Smith, of the farm formerly known as Missoula Grain and Vegetable Co., offers a workshop about their innovative production re[1]design and new marketing strategies for launching a winter/spring CSA at their newly-named Winter Kissed Farm.
March 22: Noon-1 pm
Old Salt Coop – Cole Mannix of Old Salt Co-op will discuss how their upcoming 2023 on-ranch event, Old Salt Festival, has been designed to promote their meat brand while building better understanding and stronger economic relationships amongst urban and rural Montanans. The event is designed as a vehicle for Old Salt to increase urban awareness and support for the important contributions Montana’s ranches make in providing nourishing food and robust wildlife habitat. With live music, wood-fired cooking, and content surrounding land stewardship, the event aspires to host 2,000 guests over 3 days and two nights near Helmville, MT.