11:00 a.m.                    Trade Show Opens/Visit Exhibits

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.    Lunch – on your own    

1:00 p.m.                      General Session – Welcoming Remarks – “Trends:   What’s Driving the Demand for New Farm Market Products?” – Lou Cooperhouse, Director, Food Innovation Center, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

1:00 p.m.                         Trade Show Break – Closed for Sessions – Reopens at 5:00 p.m.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Taking the Next Step

Farm Market/

Agri-tainment

Safe and Secure

Risky Business

Farmers’ Markets

2:00 p.m.

Modifying Your Internet Marketing Strategy – Connie Hancock, UNE

Resources Available to Manufacture Your Farm Products – Lou Cooperhouse, Rutgers, FIC

Food Service on the Farm – Robin Way, Rumbleway Farm, Conowingo, MD

Insurance Needs to Manage Direct Marketing Risks – Seth Rubino, Rubino Insurance Agency, Easton, PA

Positioning Your Market – Diane Holtaway & Carol Coren, Rutgers, FIC

3:00 p.m.

A Case Study:  Farm Market Product Offerings on the Internet – Pat Chambers, WebIXI

Creative Merchandising Practices to Increase Sales and Move Unwanted Product – Stan Dabkowski, Spring Meadow Farm, Upperco, MD & Steve Weber, Weber’s Cider Mill, Baltimore, MD

Displays and Lighting that Sell – Panel:  Chris Willey, Willey Farms, DE; Phyllis Shenk, Cherry  Hill Orchards, PA; Dwayne Musser, Weaver’s Orchard, PA

Risk Considerations in Structuring Your Business – Ted Bobola, Bobola Farms and Florist, Dover, DE

The Importance of Farmers’ Markets to Local Communities – Kelli Steele, Marketing, DDA

4:00 p.m.                        General Session – “Improving Your Farm Market Image” – Fred Funk, President, F & F Consultants, Funks Farm Market and Garden Center, Millersville, PA

5:00 p.m.                         Networking  –  State Association Meetings  – Exhibits Open/Visit Trade Show

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.             Trade Show Open – Light Fare Dinner in Trade Show Area

 - 25^th Mid-Atlantic Direct Marketing Conference and Trade Show Celebration – Ice Cream Social

8:00 p.m.                         Roundtable Discussions

7:00 a.m.                           Breakfast on your Own

8:00 a.m.                           Trade Show Open – Visit Exhibits

9:00 a.m.                           General Session – “Talking to the Media” – Jeff Ishee, Host and Producer On the Farm Radio and Virginia Farming Television, Mount Sidney, VA

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Taking the Next Step

Farm Market/

Agri-tainment

Safe and Secure

Risky Business

10:00 a.m.

Baler Twine and Duct Tape Marketing – Ginger Myers, UMD

Cows ‘n Corn – An Adventure in Agriculture – Patty Leonard, Cows-N-Corn, Midland, VA

Leveraging Health Marketing for the Farm Market – Stacey Antine, Health Barn, USA, Wyckoff, NJ

Shrink – How Secure Is Your Business – John Berry, Area Marketing Agent, PSU

11:00 a.m.

Providing Superior Customer Service – Stan Brown, Brown’s Orchards and Farm Market, Loganville, PA

Special Events – Panel:  Mary Fifer Fennemore, Michael Fennemore, Fifer Orchards, DE; Jay & Ilene Milburn, Milburn Orchards, MD

Food Safety and Post Harvest Handling – Dr. Chris Walsh, UMD

Show Me the Money – Panel:  Todd Butler, Butler’s Orchard, MD; Dave Hodge, Highland Orchards, PA

12:00 noon                        Light Fare Lunch in Trade Show Area

2:00 p.m.

Experiences Growing Our Market – Panel:  Becky Vanderwende, Little Wagon Produce, DE; Eric Johnson, Peter Johnson, Johnson’s Corner Farm Market, NJ

On Farm Vacations – Shannon Triplett, Kitty Nicholas, The Herds Inn at Hedgebrook Farm, Winchester, VA

Marketing Meat Goats to Non-Traditional Customers – Stephen Komar, Sussex Co. Ag Agent; Robert Mickel, Hunterdon Co. Ag Agent, Rutgers

Capturing the Diversity of Your Customer Base – Rick VanVranken, Atlantic Co. Ag Agent, Rutgers

3:00 p.m.                          General Session - “Brag ‘n Blunders” – Stan Dabkowski, Spring Meadow Farm

4:00 p.m.                          Networking in Trade Show Area – Visit Exhibits

6:00 p.m.                          Trade Show Closes – Dinner on Your Own

8:00 p.m.                          Roundtable Discussions