This Old Farm has partnered with Family Farmed and Purdue University Extension to help train specialty crop producers, namely produce growers. We will utilize the training to help grow the knowledge base within our alliance of farms. This Old Farm markets retail and wholesale produce meats and value added goods from an alliance of farms now totaling over 75. This Old Farm’s Mission is to support the family farm by offering full scale services from processing to marketing and distribution of locally raised, healthful meat, produce, and value added food. We believe sustainable agriculture needs to take into account both the environment and the true cost of production supporting both the farmer while offering value for the customer.
Our training session will be held April 9th, 2013, through Purdue University Extension Offices. Atina Diffley will be at the Parke County Extension office in person, but we will utilize Purdue’s technology to make the program available throughout the state at various offices in an effort to reach as many growers as possible. The time will be from 10-3:30 with a Meet the Buyer lunch break scheduled from 12-1:30. Steve Engleking out of LaGrange County Extension is hosting a session as well as ensuring that those unable to attend can view the session later. If you are a grower wishing to attend and receive your free copy of the third edition of the Wholesale Success: A Farmers Guide to Food Safety, Postharvest Handling, Packing and Selling Produce manual please contact Alice Alderson, Parke County Extension at (765) 569-3176 or Jessica Smith, This Old Farm, at (765) 324-2161.