“Running a Great Farmers Market Booth” Workshop Scheduled for April 18th

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is pleased to announce an upcoming workshop called “Running a Great Farmers Market Booth.” The workshop will take place on Thursday, April 18th at 6 p.m. at the Oswego County Federal Credit Union, located at 5828 Scenic Ave. (Route 3) in Mexico, NY 13114. The featured presenter at the workshop is Martin Butts, the owner of Small Potatoes, a boutique marketing, consulting, and advocacy firm.

Attendees will learn how to put together a customer-catching, low budget farmers market display as well as learn great customer service and selling techniques that also help them get to know their customer, their product, and their potential market. Using a mix of presentation and hands on exercises, attendees will learn how to operate a great farmers market booth. Learn what draws people to a particular booth, from signage to colors and more. Information in this workshop are relevant to both farmers or food product companies.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for Farmers Market vendors in Oswego County! The presenter, Martin Butts, is a very knowledgeable and engaging speaker, and a leader in the local food movement in Central New York. Anyone who runs a Farmers Market booth or a farm stand can learn something from this workshop” stated Lynnette Wright, Agriculture Economic Development Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Oswego County. Martin was chosen as one of Central New York's 40 Under Forty in 2010, recognizing individuals who have excelled in both the workplace and in the community, and Small Potatoes was recently awarded a Snail of Approval Award by Slow Food Central New York.

The price of the workshop is $20 per farm (for up to two people). Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required. To register please call 315.963.7286 or send payment to CCE of Oswego County, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114. Registrations are due by April 12th and space is limited so reserve your spot today!

Oswego County is a rural county, with a prosperous agricultural community.  The diversity of land allows for the growth of a variety of agricultural products including onions, apples, meat, cheese, wine, maple syrup, honey, berries, plums, peaches, and a wide variety of vegetables. Within the county there are at least seven local farmers markets, with one open almost every day of the week. The agricultural community in this county generates $39.4 million in annual revenue from 639 farms and supplies over 5,000 jobs.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County provides equal program and employment opportunities. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for the community through education that is valuable to the lives of Oswego County residents. For more information, or if you have special needs, please call 315-963-7286 or go online to www.thatscooperativeextension.org.

Mexico Farmers Market Survey

With the local food movement picking up speed, a group of Mexico residents has shown renewed interest in hosting a Mexico Farmers Market. They have contacted us here at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County to assist them with this endeavor. If you would like to share your thoughts about this possible market, please fill out this short survey. We want your input on creating a successful farmers market in Mexico. We are trying to get a feel if there is enough interest from farmers to have a nice market with a good selection. If you could take a moment to fill out the survey we would be very appreciative. Also, there is space at the bottom for suggestions or comments. Especially if you were a vendor in the previous Mexico Farmers Market, we’d like to know if you have any thoughts to improve the market to make it long-lasting and successful.

Please mail the survey back to CCE of Oswego County, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114 by April 26th . You can also fax it to 315-963-0968 or, you can go online to fill out the survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WJCFY7K

If you have any questions or comments, or need special assistance please feel free to contact Lynnette Wright at 315-963-7286 ext. 203, or by email at lkw39@cornell.edu. If you would like to join the committee working on this new Mexico Farmers Market please leave your contact info at the bottom of the survey or contact Lynnette.     

Oswego County Harvest Guide is Available Online!

The second edition of the Oswego County Harvest Guide is now available online! Scroll down to start finding the freshest, locally grown food! If you would prefer a hard copy of the brochure, please call us at 315.963.7286 to have one mailed to you or look for it libraries, chambers of commerce and other businesses around Oswego County.

The completion of the new Harvest Guide was the first project of the newly hired Agriculture Economic Development Specialist, Lynnette Wright. She explains “the Oswego County Harvest Guide is a directory and map of Oswego County farms and where consumers can buy fresh, local food and agricultural products including fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs and maple syrup.” Wright continued “If you’re interested in learning more about where your food comes from there is no better way than to visit a farm and learn first-hand from the farmer!”

Use the Oswego County Harvest Guide to discover all the opportunities Oswego County Agriculture has to offer and unearth all the fresh and local harvest products available throughout the year. This guide will help you make plans to visit an agricultural producer in Oswego County. You can support and learn about local agriculture in a number of ways, including: touring a farm; picking your own fruit, pumpkins or Christmas tree; shopping at a farm stand; or buying local products at a farmers market. The Oswego County Harvest Guide contains over 50 local farms, ready to answer your questions and stocked with products grown and raised locally, in your backyard, Oswego County.
 
The Harvest Guide is brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County and your neighboring farmers with the support of the Oswego County Legislature.

To obtain a copy of the Oswego County Harvest Guide, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114, telephone 315-963-7286 or e-mail: lkw39@cornell.edu.

There are 2 ways to search the Harvest Guide Online:
1. Search listings by Category & Farm Name

2. Search based on map location

Discover all the opportunities Oswego County Agriculture has to offer and unearth all the fresh and local harvest products available throughout the year. Use this guide to help you make plans to visit an agricultural producer in Oswego County.

• touring a farm or shopping at a farmers stand
• picking your own fruit, pumpkins or Christmas tree
• buying local products at a farmers market

The Oswego County Harvest Guide contains over 50 local farms, ready to answer your questions and stocked with products grown and raised locally, in your backyard, Oswego County.

Brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County and your neighborhood farmers with the support of the Oswego County Legislature.

To obtain a copy of the Oswego County Harvest Guide,
call or stop by our office:
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County
3288 Main St.
Mexico, NY 13114
Ph: 315-963-7286

There are 2 ways to search the Harvest Guide Online:
1. Search listings by Category & Farm Name

2. Search based on map location