Matt LeRoux from the Cornell Cooperative Extension will be leading two sessions; one on overarching farm marketing practices and the other focusing on point of sale system strategies to help enhance marketing opportunities. Matt has 20 years’ experience serving farms through Cornell Cooperative Extension, non-profits, and consulting. Specializing in market strategy, Matt works with a diverse mix of produce and livestock farmers and food businesses. Career highlights include developing the Marketing Channel Assessment Tool for produce growers and the Cornell Meat Price & Yield Calculator.

Following Matt's sessions will be small farmer breakout groups to discuss different marketing experiences to share challenges, strategies, and possible solutions to honor and uplift the knowledge that the local farming community possesses. There will be themes and prompts to help facilitate these breakout groups. At the end of this event we will be holding space to set up 1-on-1 stipends mentorship opportunities between farmers. 

We will be hosted by the URI Cooperative Extension in South Kingstown, RI for this event at 30 Thirty Acre Pond Road (what is now known as the Food Center, but shows up on google maps as Skogley Turf Research Center). Parking will be available on site as well as RIPTA transportation. If you would like help coordinating transportation through bus or carpooling, please let us know in the comments at the end of the registration form.