Food Entrepreneurship: A New Way of Thinking about Local Food and Jobs

A one day workshop on Food Entrepreneurship:  A New Way of Thinking about Local Food and Jobs will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

This workshop will explore issues and roadblocks with regard to local food systems, beginning with a scope of opportunities and challenges including three key aspects: place, product and promotion. Participants will also learn about the benefits and challenges of shared processing facilities (commercial kitchens, incubators and food hubs) as strategies for regional business development and job creation.

A local food system must also expand relationships between food producers and food consumers, and focus on producing food and developing alternative marketing channels that connect farmers and consumers.

Local food production benefits communities in many ways:

• Increased relationships with consumers and other regional purchasers build alternative market opportunities that can increase sales and farm profits, creating more diversified income for the farmer.
• Stronger relationships with consumers help farmers identify crops that will meet consumer demand and diversify their production and market opportunities for more stable farming operations.
• Supporting local food systems supports local economies by keeping food dollars in the community.
• Local farms employ family members, neighbors, youth and other local workers, providing jobs for community residents.
• Local food systems need productive, innovative farmers; community facilities for processing and packaging products; transportation and marketing infrastructure; and consumers, all of which help build stronger local economies.
• Growing and purchasing food in a local food system increases food security.
• Supporting new farmers and gardeners increases access to fresh food.
• Communities with a strong local food supply are better positioned to maintain a stable, safe food supply.

Date

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2013

Time

9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Lunch will be provided.

Registration

Advance registration is required by Monday, Nov. 11. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. So, please register early.

Register online by clicking here.

Location

Southeast Missouri State University
University Center
N. Henderson Ave. and Normal
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

For more information contact Matthew Ashby, 314-444-8891.  Three more one day workshops will be held across Missouri.  Keep watch here for when and where.