Category: 2021

These resources are webinars and training opportunities in other categories related to food system production, marketing, and consumption.

Virtual Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training – April 13 & 14; 1:00 – 5:00 PM EST – Registration deadline March 26 – We are pleased to offer this course to help produce growers learn about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and help them fulfill the educational requirement associated with the Produce Safety Rule. All non-exempt farms are required to have at least one person on the farm who has attended an approved FSMA PSR training, like this one. How do you know if the Produce Safety Rule applies to your farm? Watch this great video here! Even if you are exempt, you are required to keep specific records, which we will go over in the workshop. There will be time for discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions. From beginners to experienced growers, everyone can benefit from taking the time to think about food safety on their farm!  The course will include remote delivery over two days. Each day, trainers will spend approximately four hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules: 1) Introduction to produce safety, 2) Worker health and hygiene, 3) Soil amendments, 4) Wildlife, domesticated animals and land use, 5) Agricultural water (production and postharvest water), 6) Postharvest handling and sanitation, and 7) How to develop a farm food safety plan

Sustainable Vegetable Production Webinar in Spanish – Sembrador Huerta Familiar Sostenible – Wednesdays, March 17 to June 9, 2021; 6:30-8:00 PM Central Time  – Cada miércoles del 17 de marzo al 9 de junio 2021 Hora estándar central – El seminario en línea se impartirá en español utilizando la plataforma Zoom. El seminario cubrirá temas ralacionados al cultivo sostenible de vegetales en huertas, fertiliad de suelos, manejo de pestes, beneficios nutricionales y a la salud, preservación de vegetales, liderazgo e integración comunitaria, y consideraciones/desafíos de la transición a la producción comercial. Los participantes tendran acceso a grabaciones de las clases (disponobles hasta el 9 de julio), residentes de Kansas City (KC) recibiran una membresia al KCCG, residentes fuera de KC recibiran paquetes de semillas (cortesía del KCCG), registro sin costo para residentes de Missouri, y copias en PDF de las diapositivas y recursos.  $100 (sin costo para residentes de Missouri gracias al patrocinio del FCS Financial en Missouri)

These resources related to ECONOMIC IMPACT have been provided in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic from university and other sources.

Aquaculture

• • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses in the USDA Western Aquaculture Region: Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 18, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. sportfish farms: Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 18, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. tilapia farms: Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 18, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. trout foodfish businesses Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 18, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. mollusk businesses: Quarter 1 Results March 23, 2020 to April 10, 2020 Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 15, 2021
  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. ornamental fish farms: Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 15, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses located in the USDA Tropical and Subtropical Region: Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 14, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied businesses: Quarter 1 Results March 23, 2020 to April 10, 2020 Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 13, 2021

  • Impacts of COVID-19 on U.S. aquaculture allied business: Quarter 1 Results Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 12, 2021

Farms & Agribusinesses

• • Overview of a Survey on the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Virginia Farms and Agribusinesses, Fall 2020 Virginia Cooperative Extension, January 4, 2021
  • A dozen states have deemed farmers markets as an essential business, Brookings, April 8, 2020
  • Economic impact on local food markets National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, March 23, 2020

Global economy

• • The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment  McKinsey & Company, January 29, 2021

Health

• • Economic Consequences of the COVID-19 Outbreak Frontiers in Public Health, May 29, 2020

US Economy

• • 10 Facts about COVID-19 and the U.S. Economy Brookings, September 17, 2020

These resources relate to the Management of Farmers Market once they’ve been established. 

Market Manager FAQs

• • The Farmers Market Coalition has compiled a list of FAQs for managing a farmer’s market. This resource addresses concerns ranging from insurance to staffing to outreach. 

Standards Handbook and Guide

• • A key strategy in maintaining standards and quality within a market is creating a handbook with regulations and policies for vendors. Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture has created a set of standards for farmers markets in their state that ensure a level of quality is always maintained—regardless of where in the state the market is found. 

Direct Marketing Guide

• •  An important component of maintaining a farmers market is continuing to grow your vendor list and consumer base. In the link below, Florida Extension provides a collection of articles on how to approach marketing for your farmers market.

Market Growth, Outreach, and Evaluation for Markets 

• • The Farmers Market Coalition continued this FAQ series to address growth and outreach concerns for farmers markets.

Managing Farmers Markets Webinar

• • Iowa State Extension recorded and published a webinar they conducted that focused on resources available for market managers.

Management Skills Series 

• • The UC Small Farm Center created a workbook to follow to develop general management skills and then how to apply newfound skills to a farmers market. This is volume 2 of their farmers market management series. 

Mitigating COVID-19 Risks in Farmers Markets

• • Due to COVID-19, markets cannot carry on “business as usual”. Mississippi State has created a succinct article that addresses a few simple ways to maintain safety and keep markets open. 

Video Series on COVID Safety in Farmers  Markets

• • Alabama A & M and Auburn University Extension has produced a mini-series of videos that tackle some of the possible solutions to COVID concerns in a market environment.

Workers’ Compensation

• • Workers’ Compensation and Vendor Liability for Farmers’ Market Owners and Operators  – Virginia Cooperative Extension

For more information on the impact of COVID-19 on farmers markets, please look under the COVID-19 Farmers Market tab in the menu above.

Officers:

• • Chair – Dr. Virginie Zoumenou, Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1890 Nutrition & Program Leader
  • Vice-Chair – Mr. Marcus Coleman, Program Director, Grow Louisiana Beginner Farmer Training Program, Louisiana State University AgCenter
  • Secretary – Jayesh Samtani, Assistant Professor and Small Fruit Extension Specialist, Hampton Roads AREC, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech.
  • Past-President – Dr. Karen Vines, Assistant Profesor & Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech & Virginia Cooperative Extension

Working Group Leadership:

Learning Communities:

• • Chair – Dr. Iris Crosby, Extension and Outreach Manager, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Agriculture Demonstration and Outreach CenterMr. Russ Garner, Extension/Research Associate, Southern Rural Development Center
  • Vice-Chair – Mr. Russ Garner, Extension/Research Associate, Southern Rural Development Center

Resource Bank:

• • Chair – Dr. Janie Burney, Professor & Extension Specialist, University of Tennessee Extension, Knoxville
  • Vice-Chair – Mr. Russ Garner, Extension/Research Associate, Southern Rural Development Center

Strengthening Impact Evaluation:

• • Chair – Dr. Dara Bloom, Associate Professor & Extension Specialist, North Carolina State Extension
  • Vice-Chair – Ms. Hannah Dankbar, Local Food Program Manager, North Carolina State Extension

Successful Food System Models:

• • Chair – Dr. Quisto Settle, Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University
  • Vice-Chair – Dr. Dave Lamie, Professor, Clemson University

Visioning Committee:

• • Dr. Vivian Carro-Figueroa, Assistant Dean of Research, Experiment Station, University of Puerto Rico
  • Dr. Hannah Dankbar, Local Food Program Manager, North Carolina State Extension
  • Dr. Dave Lamie, Professor, Clemson University

Administrative Advisors:

• • Extension – Dr. Edwin Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech
  • Research – Dr. Robert Houtz, Director, Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station & Associate Dean for Research, College of Agriculture, Food, & Environment, University of Kentucky