“Scaling Up” Webinar Series: How to Expand Your Local Foods Business

A webinar series addressing the business, marketing, production and risk management issues involved in expanding and growing your specialty crops farm or local foods business will be held on February 12, February 19, February 26 and March 5. Co-sponsored by the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation and the University of Illinois Extension, this series of four webinars will provide a comprehensive look at four major areas to consider when deciding how, when and why to expand your local foods operation.

Through these webinars small farmers and local foods entrepreneurs will learn techniques, risks, opportunities and methods for expanding their business.

The webinars will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. through the University of Illinois Extension webinar program. There is no fee for the programs. Registration is available at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=7752. Please contact Andrew Ference, Land of Lincoln Small Farms and Local Foods Fellow, at 217-356-1351 or aference@lolllaf.org for additional information.

You can attend all or one of the sessions listed below:

February 12 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - "Scaling Up" Risk Management Issues with Expansion
Managing risk is an important part of any business, this presentation will give a farmer/entrepreneur a comprehensive idea of the types of risks that need to be planned for and managed when “scaling up” including: insurance, labor issues and food safety.

February 19 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - "Scaling Up" Expanding your Production of Local Foods
By learning more advanced farming techniques, knowing how to evaluate your farms expansion needs and planning those accordingly a farmer can successfully expand their farm to increase their production without over extending themselves.

February 26 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - "Scaling Up" Models for Business Expansion in Local Foods
Learn about the different business models that are used to expand from the farm to farmer’s market model, including such things as food hubs, CSA, selling wholesale and more.

March 5 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. - "Scaling Up" Business Marketing in a Local Foods Operation
Learn about the different marketing opportunities available to a local foods business when expanding their business. Through effective marketing of your product you can ensure a steady source of quality demand for your local foods products.