Business of Farming Conference comes to Asheville
The 23rd annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 28, at A-B Tech Conference Center in Asheville. The conference offers beginning and established farmers financial, legal, operational and marketing tools to improve farm businesses and make professional connections.
This past year was a tough one for farms in the region as they continue to recover from Helene damage, adjust for market impacts and shift financial strategies. A full list of workshops is available at asapconnections.org/conference.
The popular Grower-Buyer Meeting, in which farmers meet with chefs, grocers, wholesalers and other buyers to discuss products and potential business relationships, will be held at lunchtime. Other networking opportunities include an exhibitor hall and one-on-one sessions on food safety, tax and legal topics. Embedded within the conference is the Farmers Market Summit, a chance for farmers market managers from across the region to come together for peer-sharing, technical assistance and annual planning.
New this year, a pre-conference event facilitated by N.C. Cooperative Extension in partnership with ASAP will focus on small farm production. This event, Rooted in Research, will take place Feb. 27, from 1-6 p.m., also at A-B Tech. Discounts are available for registering for both events.
Registration is now open at asapconnections.org/conference. The cost is $95, with a discount for farm partners registering together. Scholarships are available for limited-resource farmers. The registration price includes a locally sourced breakfast and lunch.
