Farmers Rising to Present Farm Marketing Event in Rockford Nov. 21

"Grow Your Marketing, Organically" to be held at Prairie Street Brewing

Farmers Rising, a leading farm education non-profit in the Chicago region, is holding a special event on Friday, November 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m: "Grow Your Marketing, Organically."

The organization, based in Caledonia, Illinois, will present the program at Prairie Street Brewing in nearby Rockford. The event will feature experienced experts and a free lunch.

Here is how Farmers Rising describes the program segments:

• Sharon Pferschy, Garlic Breath Farm: Garlic Breath Farm is a Certified Organic, veteran-owned and operated garlic farm specializing in high allicin hard neck garlic. Sharon and Tony Pferschy started growing garlic in 2015, after finding a country residence for their pet pig and farm mascot - Kevin Bacon. They donate garlic products to local food pantries and also actively teach cooking classes, share garlic education, and create recipe cards so recipients know how to use each stage of the crop. In addition to scapes, heads and seed, they produce value-added products like seasonings, spices, and jams.

• Natalie Marquez, Grow Marketing & Communications LLC: Grow Marketing + Communications, LLC provides business development, marketing, branding, and communication support. She worked for over a decade within Illinois municipal governments, and has served on the board of the Illinois Farmers Market Association since 2012. In addition to board duties, Natalie leads numerous trainings and webinars for farmers and farmers market managers on topics ranging from e-commerce to creating appealing farmers market displays.

• Jeff Hake, Funks Grove Heritage Fruit and Grains: Jeff Hake owns and operates Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains in McLean County along with his wife and brother-in-law. Since 2017, they have established and continued to expand their line of packaged food products which they sell wholesale to retailers such as grocery stores and farmstands. They grow fruits and grains on a very small scale and are able to maximize the value of those crops through creative value-adding, storytelling, packaging, and other marketing techniques that speaks to their growing practices and the legacy of the Funks of Funks Grove.

Farmers Rising adds: "This program would not be possible without the generous support of the [U.S. Department of Agriculture's] Transition to Organic Partnership Program. The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) exists to provide technical assistance and wrap-around support for transitioning and existing organic farmers."

Click the button below to register for this informative, free event.

REGISTER FOR THE MARKETING EVENT

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