Posted: 04.07.2010

Free training for local vegetable growers will be offered next month in Iowa County. These training sessions will provide invaluable information for those interested in becoming a commodity grower to supply commercial vegetable processing plants as well as those interested in growing vegetables for farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs), restaurants/institutions, and auctions.

Thursday, April 15th, from 9:30-11:30 am, Craig Chase, Ph.D from Iowa State University, will speak on pricing for profits. Dr. Craig Chase is a farm and agricultural business management field specialist for Iowa State University Extension.
 
1:00-2:00 pm, Keith VanderVelde, UW Extension Agent for Marquette County, will speak on developing budgets that lead to increased profits from vegetables for the large-scale commodity grower. Keith has presented at numerous venues, including the Institutional Food Market Coalition for Dane County.
 
Follow-up seminars are also planned focusing on post-harvesting handling of vegetables and getting proper certification.

All trainings are free and provided by a WIRED grant (Workforce Initiative for Regional Economic Development) through the office of SWCAP in Dodgeville, WI and will be held at Sam and Maddies Restaurant, 3656 Hwy 23, Dodgeville, WI. Please reserve your seat by contacting Elizabeth Rosenthal, grant assistant, at (608) 576-1737 or elizarosenthal@yahoo.com or by contacting Rick Terrien, Iowa County Area Economic Development at (608) 341-6797. For more information and to register on-line please go to www.iowacountyedc.org.

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