Posted: 02.08.2010

Bison producers and other farmers interested in capitalizing on the opportunity to utilize Farmers’ Markets as a successful business strategy are invited to attend a half-day workshop on Friday, March 5 at the Bridgewood Resort Hotel and Conference Center in Neenah, WI.

Hosted by the National Bison Association in cooperation with the Wisconsin Bison Producers’ Association and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service, the workshop will cover subjects regarding planning, merchandising, marketing, and leveraging a presence at Farmers’ Markets to build a successful year-round business.

Participants at the workshop will work through a curriculum developed by a working group of buffalo producers with extensive experience in farmers’ markets. The workshop and curriculum are targeted to bison producers, but the information can be useful for people marketing other products as well. The session is open to all producers.

Helping to conduct the workshop will be Barb and John Bednarek of Bednarek’s Bison in Princeton, WI. The Bednarek’s have been actively selling their products through framers’ markets for several years.

Dave Carter, executive director at the National Bison Association, noted that most bison producers are small-scale and rely on direct marketing as an important part of their business. “The average bison producer in Wisconsin has less than 35 buffalo, so they must maximize the return on every animal they produce” Carter said.

“Fortunately, there is a strong upsurge in farmers’ markets, as people across the state—and across the country—seek food that is fresh, natural, local and delicious. Our workshop is intended to increase the ability of producers to connect with those customers,” Carter added.

The workshop will run from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on March 6. Registration is $10 per attendee, but is free to all participants who are members of both the National Bison Association and Wisconsin Bison Producers’ Association. All participants will receive a take-home copy of the workshop curriculum. 

More information is available on the National Bison Association website at www.bisoncentral.com.

The workshop is being funded through the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program (FMPP) Grant Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, under No. 12-25-G-0920.

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