DATCP: Learn more about selling to institutional markets

Registration Open for March Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Workshops

Contact: Ashley Huibregtse, 608-224-5002

MADISON – Growers and local food businesses interested in learning more about selling to institutional markets are encouraged to register now for one of the following Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin 2011 Regional Workshop Roadshows. The “Selling to Institutions” workshops will be held in March 2011 in Rice Lake, East Troy and Viroqua.

Olivia Parry, Director, and Laura Witzling, Coordinator, of Dane County’s Institutional Food Market Coalition (IFM) will present about selling directly to institutions as well as going through a distributer. They will review IFM resources and information available to assist growers and local food businesses when selling to institutions. Participants will also learn about the Farm to School Producer Toolkit that offers producers the information and resources needed to sell to schools.

All workshops are 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Dates and locations for the “Selling to Institutions” workshops are:

• Thursday, March 3, 2011 UW-Barron County Student Center, 1800 College Drive, Rice Lake

• Tuesday, March 8, 2011 Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, W2493 County Road Es, East Troy

• Thursday, March 10, 2011 Viroqua Area Medical Clinic, 407 S Main Street, Viroqua

In Rice Lake and Viroqua, the cost is $30 for the first registration and $15 for any additional registrations in the party. The cost for East Troy is $40 per registration.

Interested individuals can register online at https://onlineservices.datcp.wi.gov/confreg/blbwworkshop.jsp after February 18, 2011. To receive a registration brochure or more information, contact Theresa Feiner at theresa.feiner@wisconsin.gov or 608-224-5112.

The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin 2011 Regional Workshop Roadshows were made possible by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP). “Selling to Institutions” is the third and final workshop in this series.