Jan 6, 2023

MSU schedules grower webinars

The start of the new year brings new opportunities for fruit and vegetable growers to think creatively about ways they can expand their bottom lines.

Michigan State University (MSU) Extension vegetable and fruit educators are hosting a half dozen web seminars in the series on “Thinking ahead about specialty crop marketing and finance” covering a variety of topics, including:

• Specialty crop marketing and finance.
• Leveraging the Fresh Produce Consumer.
• Connecting to consumers and appealing to their preferences.
• Financial lessons from the 1980s.
• Costs of production.
• Evaluating practices and partial budgeting.
• Carbon credits and carbon farming.

During the series, presenters are scheduled to discuss current marketing trends for fruit and vegetable crops and how growers can connect their farm stories with consumers. Presenters will also discuss financial considerations and how to evaluate farm costs and production practices.

The first seminar, scheduled for Jan. 12, is entitled “Leveraging the Fresh Produce Consumer.”

Melinda Goodman, president of FullTilt Marketing, is the featured guest. “Today’s consumer has more information and more choices than ever before, both in the products they buy and how they shop,” MSU specialists said in a news release.

“Learn about the new dynamics of a digital marketplace and both values and how value-based decisionmaking impact the shopper experience, the products they buy and how we can find windows of opportunity to educate, inspire and incite purchase.”

During her 25-year career, Goodman, who possesses specializes in agriculture and food marketing, has worked closely with ag producers across the country and helped shape the future of large and small brands and tell the stories of the men and women who produce the food we enjoy.

Registration is free. Registrants will receive follow-up emails with a Zoom link to access the seminars. All events are from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

Ben Werling, a MSU Extension vegetable educator serving commercial vegetable producers in West Central and Northwest Lower Michigan, based in Hart, Michigan, and Emily Lavely, tree fruit educator for Michigan’s West Central region based in the Oceana County Extension Office in Hart, Michigan, are coordinating the seminars.