Harvest New England

02/26/2021

That's a wrap of the 2021 Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference and Trade Show!

Thank you to our speakers, panelists, sponsors, trade show exhibitors and attendees for making our first VIRTUAL conference a resounding success! We hope you gained new knowledge, felt inspired, and came away with new ideas for your business.

Attendees should check their email for a conference evaluation survey. We value your input to help us improve and plan for the future.

Recordings from each day are now posted to the website at www.harvestnewengland.com/events/conference-sessions/ The presentation slides and recordings will be available through the end of March.

Thank you again for joining us and we look forward to seeing you in 2023!

-HNE Ag Marketing Conference & Trade Show committee

Attention HNE registrants – Zoom links were sent via email from [email protected] on Tuesday with all of the information needed to sign on to attend the sessions each day. Check your spam or junk mail folders as it may be

02/21/2021

Thank you to our Sponsors! We are counting down to the start of the Harvest New England conference on Wednesday the 24th and taking a moment to recognize our sponsors. Their support has made it possible for us to provide top notch content at no cost to help your business thrive in the years ahead. It’s not too late to register https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Cabot Creamery Co-operative
DeMeritt Hill Farm
Farm Credit East, ACA
Frazer Insurance Agency, Inc.
Good Egg Marketing
Jodi Dee
MarketLink.org
The Carrot Project
Wafler Nursery

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference, Virtually (Feb. 24 & 25) Register Now Don’t forget to mark your calendar! Wednesday/ Conference Day 1: Add to Calendar Thursday/ Conference Day 2: Add to Calendar Farmers’ Market Managers Seminar: Schedule, speakers &

02/19/2021

Meet a Speaker! Aaron Buckley: Diversification for Market Success: Considerations for Diversifying Your Farm Operations

Thursday, February 25, 10:05 am – 11:35 am

Aaron Buckley of Buckley Farms, is a fourth generation farmer in Leeds, Maine. A former conventional dairy farm, they have transitioned to become a 100% grass-fed beef farm implementing regenerative agricultural techniques. They strive for quality beef products through building a healthy ecosystem that feeds their cattle and nourishes customers.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/17/2021

Meet a Speaker! Diane Souther: Diversification for Market Success: Considerations for Diversifying Your Farm Operations

Thursday, February 25, 10:05 am – 11:35 am

Diane Souther and her husband, Chuck, established Apple Hill Farm in 1978. Initially, they planted a 30-acre apple orchard for wholesale markets, but quickly diversified both their product selection and marketing channels. They added Pick-Your-Own berries, a retail stand, and vegetable production. A commercial kitchen was added to the retail building to make jams and jellies, followed by a bakery to make fruit pies, and more. The farm stand and PYO are the main sales avenues, but they also sell at area farmers markets, as well as some wholesale. Currently the farm produces 30 acres of apples, 10 acres of small fruit, and 20 acres of vegetables. The farm stand features their own products and the products of other local farms.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/16/2021

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor! Farm Credit East, ACA is part of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide agricultural network providing credit and affiliated services to those in agriculture and related industries across the United States. We serve the ag credit and financial services needs of producers in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/15/2021

Check out our Virtual Trade Show at https://harvestnewengland.com/events/virtual-trade-show/! Click on and visit many of our Exhibitors for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021.

Thank you to all of our exhibitors for supporting the conference!

Register today! https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/11/2021

Meet a Speaker! Seth Bahler: Diversification for Market Success: Considerations for Diversifying Your Farm Operations

Thursday, February 25, 10:05 am – 11:35 am

Seth Bahler is the CEO of Oakridge Dairy LLC and founder of The Modern Milkman in Ellington, CT. He is a fifth generation dairy farmer managing 3,000 acres of crops to feed their 2,700 milking cows. In 2019, he started The Modern Milkman, a weekly subscription-based box service, with a vision of building a better future for families by delivering safe and healthy food. Today, they serve 3,000 customers in 15 towns and have expanded their offerings by partnering with more than one dozen local vendors to connect farmers with their communities and communities with fresh, local products.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/09/2021

Meet a Speaker! Matt Kushi: Diversification for Market Success: Considerations for Diversifying Your Farm Operations

Thursday, February 25, 10:05 am – 11:35 am

Matt Kushi, a first-generation farmer, is the owner of Kushi Farm and The North Hadley Chili Pepper Company. Located in North Hadley, MA, these are complementary businesses that serve to operate as small, multi-functional agricultural operations focused on providing both agricultural goods and agricultural services to the consumer. Formed in 2011, formalized in 2014, and created in honor of the original Kushi Farm that operated from 1907-1961, the goods and services offered include vegetable and resource crops with a specialty in hot peppers/hot pepper products (including Hot Pepper Jelly), private research for innovative growing systems, and development for interactive agricultural education exhibits.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/05/2021

Harvest New England Association is pleased to announce the New England Farmers’ Market Managers Seminar. Five workshops, focused on issues related to managing farmers’ markets, will be held over two days on February 22 & 23. It’s being held virtually for FREE. Registration is now open! The seminar will precede the Harvest New England Agricultural Marketing Conference and Trade Show.

Seminar topics will include discussion on market planning and promotion, community engagement and partnerships, conflict resolution, creating welcoming and inclusive markets, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and SNAP incentive programs. The seminar will kick-off with a workshop entitled, “So Long 2020! It’s a New Year, a New Day, a New Marketplace in 2021”, which will look at how farmers’ market managers can navigate the upcoming season given the uncertainties related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Workshops will include presentations and discussion with farmers market managers from across the New England region. The complete agenda, including workshop descriptions and speakers can be found here or go to https://harvestnewengland.com/farmers-market-managers-seminar-2/.

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets NOFA-VT Mass Farmers Markets Barnstead Farmer's Market CISA Francestown Community Market Hartford Food System MA Food System Collaborative Seacoast Eat Local

02/04/2021

Meet a Speaker! Christopher Laughton: Diversification: Business Planning Tools to Achieve Your Goals

Thursday, February 25, 8:45 am – 10:00 am

Christopher Laughton is the Director of Knowledge Exchange at Farm Credit East, ACA. In his role there he is responsible for research and analysis of Northeast agriculture. He writes frequently about the junction between agricultural production, economics, and policy. He conducts outreach to the diverse agricultural communities of the region, and oversees Farm Credit East’s customer education programs, including benchmarking, webinars, and live events. He holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Cornell University, an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, and a master of science in applied and resource economics from the University of Connecticut. Chris grew up in Eastern Massachusetts, where he worked in his family’s greenhouse/nursery business before joining Farm Credit East. He also participates in the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer program which provides technical assistance and training to farmers in developing countries.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/03/2021

Meet a Speaker! Amanda Kinchla: From Field to Shelf: Increasing Profits Through Season Extension and Diversification by Adding Value to Your Farm Products – Which Food Safety Principles Apply?

Wednesday, February 24, 11:50 am – 1:00 pm

Amanda Kinchla, Associate Professor, UMASS Extension, Amherst, MA, supports development research from concept to commercialization to address technical challenges and deliver against product/business needs from farm to fork. She is part of a team that identifies and provides educational outreach opportunities and creates educational programs that address Food Science needs through short courses, on-line training, and other outreach venues.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of Agriculture Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine

02/01/2021

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor! Author Jodi Dee and proudly publishes quality, meaningful and relevant content for education, eco-friendly and environmental awareness, social and emotional development, self improvement and empowerment.

Sign up today for the HNE Agricultural Marketing Conference & Trade Show! It’s being held virtually for FREE Feb. 24 & 25, 2021. https://www.harvestnewengland.org/events/registration/

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food Vermont Agency of AgricultureRhode Island Department of Environmental Management Real Maine