Escambia County and Santa Rosa County Extension along with Florida Food Connect will host a free webinar for producers to connect you with consumers and boost sales on Wednesday, June 25, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Participate in the webinar by visiting http://uf.ifas.adobeconnect.com/floridafoodconnect.
From farm gate to dinner plate, consumers are looking for more local food options. According to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, industry estimates valued local food sales at $7 billion in 2011, reflecting the growing importance of this new market. While examining how to connect consumers with local producers, University of Florida researchers found opportunities for producers to market and sell local food.
Based on the results of this research and feedback from producers across the state, the University of Florida IFAS Extension teamed up the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and with MarketMaker to develop a tool with more functionality to benefit producers and buyers. The new tool, Florida Food Connect - www.floridafoodconnect.com, offers an easy to use format to promote buying and selling of Florida food products.
Visitors to the site can link to producers to buy or sell a local product in the marketplace, meet prospective buyers or sellers and learn more about their business and request particular products. Producers have identified Florida Food Connect as a key resource for producers and school districts participating in Farm to School and for accessing other local food markets.
With Florida Food Connect, many opportunities exist for producers and growers — both large and small — to diversify sales opportunities and build profitable relationships in Florida’s growing local market.
For more information, please contact Libbie Johnson, Escambia County Extension at (850) 475-5230 or [email protected] or Blake Thaxton, Santa Rosa County Extension at (850) 623-3868.
