Events

Please bring with you:

• Picture ID  (driver’s license or passport)
• Social Security card  (or other official document with your name and SSN)
• W-9  (if receiving equipment through the Farmers Market Coalition)

Click here to sign up to be a SNAP Retail Merchant

Contact Paula Varn at pvarn@clemson.edu for more details.

AGAware is a program that seeks to promote and educate the next generation of young, beginning, small and underserved farmers. AGAware is comprised of three divisions:

• Educational workshops
• Proactive community involvement projects to promote agriculture
• Speakers bureau to promote agriculture and educate

The AGAware program will offer insight into topics that include the following:

• Balance Sheets
• Income Statements
• Personal Finance
• Credit Bureau Scores
• Risk Management
• Succession Planning
• Building a Budget
• Accrual Income
• Available Finance Programs for YBSM

Register here: https://www.agsouthfc.com/News/AGAware.aspx

North Carolina State University and North Carolina Cooperative Extension are partnering with Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA) and other partners to deliver workshops across the state with the aim of providing farmers with the tools to reduce food safety risks and meet market requirements.

The Navigating the USDA GAP Audit workshop, will combine classroom and on-farm instruction to provide producers with the tools needed to identify potential food safety concerns, as well as strategies to minimize potential contamination. Available resources, including consulting services, will be provided to growers who participate to assist with the implementation of an effective on-farm food safety program. Participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance to fulfill training verification for those undergoing a GAP audit.

Registration: $20 CFSA Members / $25 Non-Members (includes lunch). To register by phone, call 919.542.2402.

Attendees will learn about the resources and programs available to provide technical, financial, and educational assistance to SC farmers. More than two dozen agencies and organizations will participate in this roundup of expertise. Attendees will have an opportunity to chat with representatives and learn about program details and availability.

General admission ($20) includes lunch and program materials.

Interested in learning more about what it means to be organic? Clemson invites you to attend an organic workshop to learn more about certified organic operations in South Carolina and Clemson University's Organic Certification Program. This workshop is free to attend. To register contact Jennifer Boyles at 843-616-0786.

Farming on a small farm requires labor, not just from the farmer but from others as well. This 4-hour workshop will showcase how to structure labor on a small farm through the eyes of established regional farmers. This is a great workshop to attend if you have been farming and are looking to take your farm to the next level by bringing on additional labor support. Legal and financial considerations will be highlighted and discussed to better understand which labor structure best fits your farming model. Training is $40 and includes lunch.

igh tunnels offer many benefits in vegetable and small fruit production. However, purchasing and installing can be costly. Come and learn about a low cost DIY tunnel that can be installed in hours on your own farm! Also, there will be discussions on other buying and construction options including cost share opportunities.

Summer and fall production can be difficult in high tunnels due to excessive heat and high pest pressure. There will be discussion on production options for high tunnels during summer months and how to prepare for fall crops. A portion of this day will be HANDS-ON learning.

This purpose of this training is to guide participants in developing skills that are key to success in the marketplace, including in harvesting, washing, cooling and packing methods for different types of vegetables that yield a high quality product and minimize food safety risks. Based on feedback from our previous Wholesale Success trainings, in addition to critical information on best harvest- and post-harvest handling practices to meet market standards, participants will gain first-hand experience in the field and processing shed with harvesting and processing various types of vegetables.

Cost to attend the workshop for the general public is $10. Registration includes a Wholesale Success manual and a local foods lunch. Registration is limited to 45 participants.

Please join Apiculture Specialist, Dr. Jennifer Tsuruda, for a discussion on the importance of pollinators, and considerations for encouraging them to become a natural and permanent resource on the farm.  Student Organic Farm manager, David Robb, will give a tour of the farm and provide information on practices currently in place to encourage and support pollinators.  Plenty of time will be provided for questions.

There is a $10 fee to attend this workshop which will help support future extension activities.  Pre-registration is requested.

https://secure.touchnet.net/C20569_ustores/web/classic/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=3243

No-till vegetable production offers a more sustainable approach to weed management than the frequent use of herbicides and tillage, and also promotes soil health. Because cover crop based no-till vegetable production involves a different approach to management, growers may be reluctant to transition from conventional tillage without seeing the system in action and knowing its costs and benefits compared with conventional tillage. In this workshop, there will be discussion on the pros and cons of cover cropping and no-till with recommendations based on current research and our experiences in the field over the past decade.

Fee to attend is $15 for the general public

A Produce Safety Rule Training for produce growers who must meet the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule will be held in Greenville on Monday, June 4.

The seminar is intended for those seeking success with a new or expanding agribusiness or those with a rural small business idea.

Topics will include:

• Planning a Successful Business
• Sell It or Smell It - Venues for Your Products
• Understanding Websites, Social Media, and Online Searches
• Financing Agribusiness in SC - Loan Sources, Grants, and Other Financing
• SC Agribusiness Success Stories

Lunch will be provided for attendees, and there is no charge for attendance.

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association is conducting a Fundamentals of On-Farm Food Safety Class in Spartanburg County.

Through the support of Clemson Sustainable Agriculture, the Growing New Farmers Program is opening up one of their classes to the public. They will have a dealer of Grillo Walk-Behind Tractors. Gale Smith is going to bring two models and a variety of implements to Middleton Place USDA Organic Farm to talk about the application of this technology on a small scale farm operation.  There will be lunch provided by Middleton Place Restaurant.  The fee is just $15.

Educational instruction will consist of breakout sessions focusing on development of agritourism plans, legal considerations, safety, marketing and maintaining success. During the panel session, attendees will hear from entrepreneurs about how AgriTourism has changed the way they operate today. This is followed by the opportunity to ask questions.

Registration deadline: August 1, 2018

For farmers, successful use of cultural disease and insect pest management methods to prevent and/or avoid problems before they occur depends on an understanding of pathogen and pest life cycles and also how their development may be affected by weather conditions.  In this workshop, vegetable disease and insect pest management experts will discuss life cycles of key disease pathogens and insect pests affecting vegetables both above and below-ground. They will also explain how growers may use this information to implement certain cultural management practices that help to prevent or avoid disease and pest problems, and how changes in weather can affect disease and pest development. The workshop will conclude with a session on selection and application of organic insecticides for use in vegetables.

The cost to attend this workshop is $15 which will offset supplies and lunch costs.

AGAware is a program that seeks to promote and educate the next generation of young, beginning, small and underserved farmers. AGAware is comprised of three divisions:

• Educational workshops
• Proactive community involvement projects to promote agriculture
• Speakers bureau to promote agriculture and educate

The AGAware program will offer insight into topics that include the following:

• Balance Sheets
• Income Statements
• Personal Finance
• Credit Bureau Scores
• Risk Management
• Succession Planning
• Building a Budget
• Accrual Income
• Available Finance Programs for YBSM

Come learn about how to assess soil health on the farm, the practices that support it, and why it’s important. We’ll cover the basics of how soil fertility, physical properties, and soil biology are related, and discuss a variety of management strategies that promote soil health, including what researchers at Clemson have learned from years of no-till research. We’ll tour research plots at Clemson’s Student Organic Farm, and demo soil sampling techniques and key organic no-till equipment. We’ll also cover different soil testing methods, and discuss which might be right for your farm.

Who Should Attend: Produce growers who must meet the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

The PSA Grower Training Course is a way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course:
First Day: 8:30am-5:00pm
The trainers will spend all day teaching the content contained in these seven modules:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

Snacks and Lunch will be provided, please note of any food allergies or preferences

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module.

After attending the entire course, participants will receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

If you need a food safety course for the Cold Storage Cost Share Program this will satisfy that requirement.

This is the first event of its kind in the Lowcountry and will offer insight and education specific to the Southeast region.  The event features esteemed flower growers Debra Prinzing (Driving force behind the Slow Flower Movement) and Rita Anders of http://www.cutsofcolor.com/ , along with other speakers, a design component/panel, and a meet and greet reception.

The cost to attend is $25 for the welcome reception on 8/26 and $75 for the workshop on 8/27.

South Carolina Farm to Institution, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control’s Division of Diabetes, Heart Disease, and School Health, will be hosting the second annual SC Farm to Institution Summit. This year’s theme is Planting Seeds of Innovation.

Who Should Attend:

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course:

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:
•Introduction to Produce Safety
•Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
•Soil Amendments
•Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
•Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
•Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
•How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Benefits of Attending the Course:

The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
•Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
•How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
•Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
•Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

Additional Information: 

Location: Horry County Cooperative Extension Office 1949 Industrial Park Road, Conway, SC 29526

For more information about scheduled PSA Grower Training Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu. For questions, please contact Chad Carter, Clemson Extension Produce Safety Grower Training Coordinator at (843)730-5211 or ctcarte@clemson.edu or Brooke Horton, SCDA Produce Safety Outreach Coordinator at (803) 351-1244 or Bhorton@scda.sc.gov.

There will be three immersive two-day workshops:

1. Mushrooms, Molds, and Mycorrhizae, taught by Tradd Cotter

Mushrooms offer us nearly infinite possibilities for innovation, including high-quality food and alcohol production, water filtration, antibiotic development, invasive management, myco-pesticides, pollution and toxin remediation, and more. Whether you’re engaged on a home-, garden-, or farm-scale, beginners and advanced students alike will walk away with the knowledge and skills needed to accomplish a range of personal or professional goals. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend both days. The workshop builds on itself and all of these components work in harmony to create optimal understanding of the power of the fungi community.

2. The Sustainable Poultry Flock, taught by Jim Adkins

The workshop will include a lecture, hands-on experience, and a farm tour. The hands-on components will happen on Saturday and will include a breeding analysis and a slaughter and butcher demo. Students will receive a training manual filled with resources, including budget overviews, facility plans, pasture-growing strategies, feeding instructions, and proper feed recipes.

3. Tending Your Inner Garden, taught by Monica Corrado

True health begins and ends in the gut. In fact, there is mounting evidence that chronic illnesses such as cancer, depression, allergies, and autism spectrum disorder find their origin in the digestive system. The gut—which acts as a “second brain”—functions independently of the actual brain and plays a huge role in whether we struggle or thrive. In this accessible and non-clinical workshop, Monica Corrado—teaching chef, holistic nutritionist, and certified GAPS™ practitioner—will uncover the secrets of a traditional whole-foods diet and nutrient-dense cooking through simple, do-it-yourself techniques that address health issues holistically. This high-energy workshop is comprised of a lecture, cooking demos, tastings, and handouts that will help you will learn how to heal your gut. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend both days. The workshop builds on itself, and all of these components work in synergy with each other to create optimal healing.

High tunnels can be an asset for many farms but which high tunnel is right for you? How do you select an appropriate site and orientation? Exactly HOW does the construction process work? At this field day we will answer those questions and more!

Howell Specialty Farmz currently has a high tunnel in production and has just been approved through an NRCS cost share program to construct an additional high tunnel. We will talk about their experiences as well as hear from professionals about the purchasing, site selection and construction process.

Workshop will start at First Presbyterian Church, 419 W. Main Street; Moncks Corner 29461. There will be a field demonstration and catered lunch at a nearby field. This is a free event!

With growing interest in ginger and turmeric, many health professionals, researchers, farmers, and food and beverage professionals are turning their attention toward these healthy spices. In order to cultivate new ideas and further grow the industry, Virginia State University is hosting the first National Ginger & Turmeric Conference in Richmond, Virginia this fall. The three-day conference is targeted at the agricultural, health, and culinary professionals who work or are considering working with ginger and turmeric. It will showcase the latest science and technology related to production, product development and health, as well as feature success stories and marketing strategies.

he Sustainable Agriculture Conference brings together farmers, foodies, ag-tivists, and experts for a weekend of celebration of innovation in local, sustainable agriculture.

Attendees will experience a supportive and interactive event featuring local farmer-mentors as well as experts from various sectors of our agricultural system.

Check out these unparalleled opportunities to learn and connect:

• 60 workshops in 3 incredible days for roughly 1,000 attendees from the Carolinas and experts from around the country.

• 70-table exhibit hall with premium spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Networking opportunities – regional and topical meetings, buyer/producer meet-up, seed exchange, meet-and-eat reception, and more!

• Local and organic meals.

Hop aboard a chartered bus for a guided tour of three Lowcountry farms to learn more about their operations and business practices.

Saturday, November 17, 2018
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Farm visits include:
– Cordray’s in Ravenel: cattle farming and meat processing
– Compost in My Shoe at Full Circle Farm on Johns Island: vegetables, herbs and cut flowers
– Storey Farms on Johns Island: egg production, meat production for poultry and swine

The tour will depart from and return to Local Works Coworking Space:
1630 Meeting Street, Building 2
Charleston, SC 29405

Tickets: $20 (includes lunch and transportation)
Free for CLEMSON SCNBFP class of 2018 graduates. Children ages 3-12 – $10. Children under 3 – no cost.

For more information:
Brian Wheat: brian@lowcountrylocalfirst.org //  843-801-3390

Who Should Attend:

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course:

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Benefits of Attending the Course:

The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:

• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
• Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

Who Should Attend:

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course:

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering content contained in these seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Benefits of Attending the Course:

The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:

• Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
• How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
• Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
• Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

Additional Information:

For more information about scheduled PSA Grower Training Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu. For questions, please contact Chad Carter, Clemson Extension Produce Safety Grower Training Coordinator at (843)730-5211 or ctcarte@clemson.edu or Brooke Horton, SCDA Produce Safety Outreach Coordinator at (803) 351-1244 or Bhorton@scda.sc.gov.

The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference is the LARGEST educational conference and trade show in the southeastern United States that unites growers, vendors and suppliers. Anyone with an interest in specialty crop agriculture is invited to be a part of this event. Through more than 80 hours of educational sessions, we will address food safety concerns, specific commodity issues on production practices and increased yields, and marketing strategies. Participate in our growing and dynamic TRADE SHOW, where you’ll browse through more than 85,000 square feet of space filled with key suppliers and growers. There has never been a more vital time for the fruit and vegetable industry to come together for a brighter and more profitable future!

*The SC Specialty Crop Growers Association will have a booth*

The SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo serves as an umbrella event for all aspects of Agriculture and Agribusiness. Designed to incorporate the industry’s deep traditional roots along with today’s thriving innovations, the Expo streamlines the promotion and the expansion of the business of agriculture in South Carolina and beyond.

The Expo includes a farm show with a wide variety of equipment, farm products and educational components. The SC AgriBiz & Farm Expo is the only event representing all aspects of agriculture both large and small. It features innovations in agricultural; equipment, education, commodity spotlights, feedstocks, special guest speakers, economic developers, producers, value-added enterprises, youth development, and much more!

This event is FREE!

Meeting, at SC AgriBiz and Farm Expo in Florence 

The SC Specialty Crop Growers Association will be holding an annual meeting on January 24 from 9:30 am - 10:30 am in room 105 and 106 at SC AgriBiz in Florence, SC.

Please join us to learn about all we have done this year and exciting things planned for 2019. We would love to hear input from our members as well! All are welcome to attend!

Please email landerson@scda.sc.gov to register. There is no cost to attend.

Are you a South Carolina specialty crop farmer in need of help with brand development and e- commerce training to make your farm more successful? The SC Specialty Crop Growers Association is proud to team up with research professors from the University of South Carolina to create a one-day workshop for specialty crop farmers with topics centered on farm resource development, marketing strategies, brand creation, and leveraging social media. Dr. Jeffrey Campbell, an associate professor of retailing at USC, will serve as the lead researcher. Space is limited and is on a first come first serve basis.

When: March 7, 2019 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Philips Market Center, West Columbia, SC

Please email landerson@scda.sc.gov for an application. There is no cost to attend and lunch is provided.

There is a maximum of 2 people per farm who can attend.