Workshop Planned to Help South Carolina Growers and Farmers Expand Market

An upcoming workshop for farmers, growers and food producers will help launch a new program for businesses in South Carolina that want to sell to local restaurants and grocers.

The S.C. MarketReady program, a partnership between Clemson Extension, the S.C. Department of Agriculture and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is holding a one-day workshop Feb. 27 to help food suppliers succeed in the modern marketplace.

The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Phillips Market Center at the S.C. State Farmers Market, 3501 Charleston Highway in West Columbia.

The cost to attend is $60 per participant, which includes lunch and program materials. Click here to register online. The registration deadline is Feb. 20.

The MarketReady training program addresses the wide array of issues and challenges small farmers and ranchers must manage as they seek to develop supplier relationships with restaurants, grocery stores, wholesalers and food service buyers.

The training is based on business practices identified by buyers in these markets that are actively seeking to engage local suppliers. MarketReady helps vendors that sell dairy, fruits, meats and vegetables and other goods design and implement successful business strategies.

Subjects covered during the workshop include communication and relationship-building, packaging, labeling, pricing, delivery, storage, invoicing, insurance and marketing, among others.

A similar workshop will be held in April in Spartanburg.