Sault St. Marie, MI – The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) is hosting an on-farm field day, Season Extension to Expand Your Marketing Potential, in Sault Ste. Marie, MI at Ski Country Farms and Beaver Meadow Creek Farm on Monday, October 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This event is the fifth in a series of six field days throughout the summer and fall designed to help specialty crop producers grow and expand their businesses to meet the demand for local food in the state of Michigan.
“Farmer-to-farmer educational opportunities support producers, allowing them to be more economically viable, which in turn benefits farmers market communities across the state,” said Dru Montri, MIFMA Director.
Greg Zimmerman and Carolyn Rajewski, owners and operators of Ski Country Farms have met the challenges of season extension head-on with two reliable and innovative hoophouses. At Beaver Meadow Creek Farms, Mark and Deanna Jones have been farming for 10 years alongside developing careers in the healthcare industry, managing a lawn-care business, and remaining active in 4-H. The family now owns three Farmtech hoophouses where they grow predominantly greens and tomatoes.
Registration is required to attend and is free to members of MIFMA, Michigan Food & Farming Systems and the Michigan Agri-Tourism Association. Visit www.mifma.com/events to learn more or register.
Funding for the field days is being supported by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, allowing MIFMA to reach more than 120 specialty crop producers across the state of Michigan, providing them with the knowledge and examples they need to increase their profitability and enhance the specialty crop industry’s competitiveness.
More information on upcoming on-farm field days and details on farmers markets across the state can be found by visiting the MIFMA website at www.mifma.org or on our Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/