Managing for Profit Workshop

Gary Matteson presented a "Managing for Profit Workshop" for farmers on February 27, 2013. Gary, pictured above, is VP Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach for the Farm Credit Council in Washington, DC. He is a New Hampshire native and one-time farmer himself (greenhouse-raised cut flowers). The program was targeted at farmers supplying food hubs.

Gary talked about business planning, risk management, and benchmarking. He introduced tools such as the One-Page Business Plan and the One-Page Financial Plan. These tools and other materials about business planning can be found on the website for the Field Guide to the New American Foodshed.

Also part of the workshop was a presentation by Jeff Farbman of the Wallace Center at Winrock International about food safety regulations and certification. More information can be found on the website for the National Good Food Network.

About 25 people attended, including farmers and people involved in Vermont's Farm Viability programs. The program was hosted by the Intervale Food Hub and held in the Great Room at Main Street Landing in Burlington. The program was funded by USDA's Risk Management Agency and developed by the Farm Credit Council, the Wallace Center at Winrock International, and Morse Marketing Connections, LLC. Three employees from Yankee Farm Credit attended and participated in the discussions: Loan Officer Tom St. Pierre, SVP/Chief Credit Officer John Peters, and President and CEO George Putnam.