The Appalachian Table – Where Local Food Producers and Buyers Meet
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Date
2019-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ohio State University. Office of Outreach and Engagement
Abstract
Demand by consumers for locally- and sustainably-produced foods continue to grow. However, many local food producers looking to expand beyond direct-to-consumer markets find it difficult to connect with and navigate the various market channels including restaurants, grocers, wholesalers, and institutions. Likewise, the buyers of these market channels have difficulty identifying and connecting with producers who can meet their needs for locally-produced foods in a manner and quantity that is suitable for their business. This poster will share a best practice that can be replicated throughout Ohio to facilitate meaningful connections between local food producers and local food buyers. Learn how the event was developed and delivered, best practices for holding a successful event, and how such an event can provide positive impacts for your local food producers, buyers, and consumers.
Description
The Appalachian Table provides a setting where local food producers and local food buyers can make connections, share information, and learn best practices from others who are successfully marketing their locally produced foods into various market channels. The event features an all-local foods breakfast including coffee, baked goods, proteins, dairy, fruits, and grains. Potential buyers are exposed to the variety of locally produced foods from the Appalachian Region of Ohio. In addition, producers learn from their peers how they are successfully marketing through various channels including specialty grocers, restaurants, community supported agriculture, and direct-to-consumer markets. Area producers who are successfully selling products through local market channels participate in a panel discussion and respond to audience questions. The Sleepy Bee Cafe founder, Sandra Gross and executive chef, Francis Kroner, shared information with attendees on how they procure locally produced foods for their three cafes in the Cincinnati area. Resource providers in attendance helped producers and buyers become more aware of the resources available to assist local food producers with successfully positioning their products in the local foods market, such as the OSU Extension Direct Food and Agricultural Marketing Team, CFAES Center for Cooperatives, Ohio Proud, Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, Chambers of Commerce, and Ohio Minority Business Assistance Center Cincinnati. The event brings the buyers and producers of local foods together in one location over a local foods meal, helps to make meaningful connections, sparks interest in the diversity of products produced in the region, and assists with peer-to-peer learning and networking. The objective of this event is to highlight the diversity of locally produced foods and the variety of available market channels in the Appalachian Region of Ohio for producers and buyers. Peer-to-peer learning is encouraged, helping to make meaningful connections among buyers and producers, and share available resources to help both groups succeed.
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Christie Welch, direct marketing specialist, OSU South Centers, welch.183@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Ivory Harlow, program specialist, CFAES Center for Cooperatives; Hannah Scott, program manager, CFAES Center for Cooperatives
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Christie Welch, direct marketing specialist, OSU South Centers, welch.183@osu.edu (Corresponding Author); Ivory Harlow, program specialist, CFAES Center for Cooperatives; Hannah Scott, program manager, CFAES Center for Cooperatives
Keywords
local foods, marketing, connections
Citation
Engaged Scholars, v. 7 (2019).