Cooperative Extension offers “Farm Products to Food Products” Workshops

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Utah State University Cooperative Extension have teamed up to co-sponsor a workshop for growers and small food processors, “Farm Products to Food Products: Increased Sales and Season Extension through Value-Added Products.” The workshop will be held 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on May 13 in Las Vegas and on May 14 in Reno. It will also be available via compressed video to those who want to participate in Elko, Caliente and Tonopah.

The workshop is intended to provide growers and small processors with information and strategies for developing and marketing valued-added products through direct and wholesale outlets. Workshop topics take a start-to-finish perspective, ranging from idea conceptualizing to business planning, ingredient testing and labeling, processing, and sales and marketing strategies. The workshop is taught by Extension personnel from the two universities, local growers and industry representatives.

According to Kynda Curtis, USU Extension agricultural marketing specialist and the workshop organizer, the workshop “will provide farmers and others looking to develop food products for sale with an overview of the product development, processing and market planning steps that need to be considered.”

Holly Gatzke, Extension Educator in Nevada’s Lincoln County, said the collaborative effort between Nevada and Utah State Extension brings in expertise that focuses on creating food products.

“We need to bring in expertise where we don’t have it, and Utah State has it for this topic,” she said. Attendees will get an understanding of how to create a great product because this can be a very complex business. After they attend this conference, they will have some key pieces of how they can take on creating a new food product.”

The registration fee is $40 per person and includes breaks, lunch and program materials. To register for the Las Vegas workshop, go to http://www.lasvegasfarmtofood.eventbrite.com. To register for the Reno workshop, go to http://www.renofarmtofoodproducts.eventbrite.com. The Las Vegas workshop will be held at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Clark County Building, 8050 Paradise Road, Suite 100. The Reno workshop will be held at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, 2500 E. Second St.

For additional information or to participate via compressed video, contact Curtis, [email protected] or 435-797-0444. Program partners include USDA Risk Management Agency, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Utah State University Food Quality and Entrepreneurship Program.