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Market Ready training planned for producers
MISSISSIPPI STATE – A free Mississippi Market Ready training will be held in three locations to help food producers learn how to sell their products directly to restaurant chefs and retail managers.
Mississippi State University Extension Service experts will discuss current food policy legislation, building relationships with restaurant managers and chefs, proper packaging and labeling, marketing strategies, pricing structures and regulatory concerns.
Sessions will be held Dec. 9 at the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Raymond, Jan. 20 at the Forrest County Extension Office in Hattiesburg, and March 2 at the Pontotoc County Extension Office in Pontotoc.
All sessions will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors will open at 8 a.m. for coffee and socializing with speakers and colleagues.
“This is an ideal training for fruit and vegetable growers; producers who have meat, seafood, dairy or poultry products; and makers of value-added or processed foods, such as sauces, wine, jams and jellies, desserts or breads – any food product our Mississippi producers want to sell to a restaurant directly,” said Kim Morgan, assistant Extension professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics. “This is an intermediate-level training for entrepreneurs with existing products who want to establish accounts with local businesses.”
Pre-registration is required to ensure there will be sufficient lunch and materials. The workshop, which includes refreshments, lunch, training workbooks and reference materials, is funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s the Southern Region Extension Risk Management Education Grants Program. Those interested are encouraged to register online at https://www.agecon.msstate.edu/training/marketready/index.php or call Dr. Kim Morgan at (662) 325-0413.
The event is supported by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, the Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, and the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association.
