2019 ALASKA FOOD FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE / AFMA ANNUAL MEETING
MARCH 8-9, 2019 – HOMER, ALASKA (CONFERENCE)
MARCH 10, 2019 – HOMER, ALASKA (ANNUAL MEETING)
- Submit a proposal today! The ABSTRACTION SUBMISSION APPLICATION – closes December 10th (CLICK HERE).
- AFMA Travel Scholarships for Market Managers & Farmers! Apply today!!!
- Sponsorship Information – Donate funds, silent auction items, food, beverages, or your time!
- Vendor Information – we have a variety of booth options, check it out!Registration Portal (click here to register)
- $180.00 Full Food Conference and Festival (w/Social Event) (Friday and Saturday)
- $90.00 Full Food Conference and Festival (w/Social Event) – (for speakers, students & volunteers)
- $100.00 Friday Food Conference and Festival (w/ Social Event)
- $90.000 Saturday Food Conference and Festival
- $25.00 Food Policy Networking Event only (Friday evening)
About the Event:
The Alaska Food Policy Council is a nonprofit organization whose diverse membership works to engage Alaskans to make positive changes for the state’s food system, and to create a healthier, more prosperous, and more secure future for all.
The Alaska Farmers Market Association‘s mission is to support and promote vibrant and sustainable farmers markets throughout Alaska. AFMA is exited about this opportunity to gather state farmers market organizers and food system leaders together. Market organizers – look for sessions with a focus on farmers markets.
March 10th (Sunday morning), AFMA will host its Annual Meeting over breakfast, with Keynote Speaker, Ben Feldman, Policy Director for the Farmers Market Coalition.
The goals of the conference and festival are to:
· increase awareness of Alaska food issues among the general population;
· provide training, resources, and networking opportunities to increase involvement in local food issues by community members and decision makers; and
· increase connections and build community between the public, Alaska food businesses, NGOs, governmental entities, Tribal entities, and others to support local economic development and innovative solutions.
Like last year, the conference and festival will have four focus areas:
1. Food Production & Harvesting
2. Community Building & Traditions
3. Food Insecurity
4. Food Business
2019 Confirmed Speakers:
- Ben Feldman, Policy Director, Farmers Market Coalition
- Martha Pearson, SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
- Courtney Long, Program Coordinator, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach/ Local Foods Program
STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION THIS YEAR’S SESSIONS AND SPEAKERS. TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2017 AGENDA FOR A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT!
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2017 AK STATE FARMERS MARKET ORGANIZERS CONFERENCE
MARCH 2-4, 2017 – HOMER, ALASKA
In the fall of 2015 the Homer Farmers Market was awarded a Farmers Market Promotion Program Grant for the project, “Expanding Access and Solidifying Statewide Networks.” A major component of this project was to convene a statewide conference, gathering farmers market organizers from across the state to come together and share resources and information. By doing so, the HFM hoped to more closely link agricultural infrastructure through direct connections and networks, in turn benefiting individual farmers and consumers throughout the state.
Conference Presenters & Schedule
Conference Attendees, from 18 Alaskan Farmers Markets and Speakers from 3 States!
Amy Pettit, Alaska Farmtrust/ Alaska Food Policy Council, welcomes attendees to the first ever Alaska State Farmers Market Organizers Conference, a shared vision long in the making
Erin Fahsholtz, State of Alaska Division of Public Assistance/WIC Vendor Management Assistant (with the Farmers Market Coalition remotely), shares information about WIC and SNAP benefits
Kate Consenstein, Rising Tide Communications, and Mary Smith, Edible Alaska, give participants some great tips for social media, advertising, and sharing market stories
<- Heidi Chay, Farmers Fresh Market/ Kenai Soil & Water Conservation District and Will O’Donnell, Washington State Farmers Market Association Director: “Happy Vendors, Happy Managers” session, discussing conflict resolution at Farmers Markets
->Brad St. Pierre, Tanana Valley Farmers Market, deep in discussion
Arthur Keyes, Alaska Division of Agriculture Director, discussing the state of agriculture in Alaska during our lunchtime Keynote Address
Keynote Kathy Zeman, Minnesota Farmers Market Association Director, presents “10 Best Marketing Practices for Farmers Market Vendors,” our post-conference vendor focused lecture