Marketing Organic Crops & Certification Paperwork Wrap-up

A class for farmers wanting to begin or transition to

Commercial-Scale, Certified Organic

Production Of Vegetable and Fruit Crops

Have you heard about expanding sales opportunities for Organic growers? Perhaps you feel that your farm is too small to break into the conventional commercial vegetable market? Do you have some land that has been idle for a few years, and now are looking to put it into potentially profitable production? Do you want to farm more sustainably? Answering yes to any of these questions may mean that the upcoming class on Organic Production is right for you. Whether you eventually choose to become a Certified Organic producer or not, the class will be filled with information on proven techniques for successfully growing vegetable, small-fruit, and field crops while building your soils' health and foregoing the use of synthetic chemicals on your farm.

This class is geared primarily toward growers who are already set-up for commercial scale production (e.g. - 1-acre of ready-to-be-certified-organic field land or more), and wish to enter the expanding Certified Organic Market and/or produce according to USDA Organic standards, but smaller-scale growers are also welcome. Topics covered will include soils & fertility, disease identification & control, insect identification & control, weed management, post-harvest handling, certification & record-keeping, and selling to wholesale and retail markets.

The class will meet on Mondays, from 5:30-8:30 PM, at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center

252 Poplar Grove Rd.

Boone, NC 28607

Participating growers will receive books on organic agriculture, weed management, disease identification, and organic pest control, plus resource CD's with additional information on organic production.

Cost: $50 – Class limited to 20 growers