Posted by: thepinetree on 04/14/2015 02:53 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 04/14/2015 02:53 AM
Expires: 01/01/2020 12:00 AM
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Speed Dating Approach Used For Agribusiness Mixer
Sonora, CA...Tuolumne County Farm Bureau and Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority joined forces to host an event to bring local businesses together with local agricultural producers. “This goal is to get more local produce into our local marketplace,” Elena Linehan, Executive Director of the Farm Bureau, said. A dozen producers gathered this week to discuss their wares and how they can fulfill the needs for local business. The event was called Product to Buyers and used the “speed dating” approach rather than a trade show set up.
“Each producer was matched to one of our local business reps from a store or restaurant, Linehan said, “They met for 5 to 7 minutes before they rotated throughout the room until every ag producer met with each of the businesses.”
Larry Cope of the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority recruited the business representatives for the event. Business representatives included Black Oak Casino, Christopher’s Ristorante, Evergreen Lodge, the National Hotel, SaveMart, and the Standard Pour.
Tuolumne County’s top crops are cattle, timber and rangeland. Linehan said she was pleased with the variety of agricultural producers represented at the event.
“Of course we had the beef industry well represented, and the wine makers, too,” Linehan said. “But we also had hot-house tomatoes, specialty melons, hard apple cider, hogs, olive oil, salts, and even specialty products like soaps and cosmetics produced locally.”
The event was open to Farm Bureau members in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.
Chris Hammond, Farm Bureau Board Member and Chair of the event said, “We hope to expand this program next year. Everyone enjoyed meeting each other and hearing about our local products. Even if a vendor was already purchasing from that producers, this event gave them a chance to talk more and learn more about the customer’s needs.”
Participating in the Product to Buyers event were Brice Station Vineyards, Chatom Vineyard, Cover’s Apple Ranch and Cover’s Produce, Gaiser Cattle, the Honey Lady, Hurst Ranch, Indigeny Reserve, Lazy JH Farms, Metzger Farms and Vineyard, Orozco Garcia Farm, Rawhide Meats, Table Mountain Beef, and Yosemite Cellars.
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