Specialty Producers Invited for Industry Updates, Education Today

The South Dakota Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) is hosting its Annual Membership Meeting March 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Ft. Pierre. SDSPA is a statewide group that works to promote and support South Dakota’s specialty crop production and local foods industry.

Members as well as non-member producers, farmers market managers and vendors, chefs and retailers, value-added businesses, local foods enthusiasts, and agencies are encouraged to attend. The event is at Drifters Bar & Grill in Ft. Pierre.

This event will include a one-hour business meeting to provide participants with an overview of SDSPA’s projects and accomplishments from this past year. The morning will also include time for producers, consumers, agencies, & local food supporters from across the state to network.

Participants will get caught up on relevant policy & agency updates, and learn how to utilize available programs from state agencies. City Commons CSA, out of Detroit, Mich., will share how it sets up and runs its multi-farm CSA.

Visit Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.com/e/475760822427) for more details and to register. Attendees are asked to pay $20 at event check-in for their meal cost. Drifters Bar & Grill, a restaurant committed to including local ingredients in their meals, will provide lunch.

Those present are encouraged to stay until 5:30 p.m. for the early sessions of the Upper Midwest Urban & Rural Ag Innovation Conference (UMURAI) (www.conference.sdspecialtyproducers.org). Sessions will include Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension- Soil Sampling: How to complete and read the results; Serendipity Farmstead- Growing tropical fruits in a geothermal greenhouse; branding; urban agriculture; and round table discussions.

Those that intend to stay Tuesday evening through Wednesday for the entire UMURAI conference should register separately for the 2nd event on Eventbrite (www.eventbrite.com/e/560039873337).

If interested in SDSPA membership, complete the application on the association’s website at http://sdspecialtyproducers.org. Dues are $30 annually. Producers and local foods enthusiasts can stay up-to-date on relevant issues and educational opportunities by following SDSPA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sdspa/.

For more information on this event or membership contact Laura, at sdspecialtyproducers@gmail.com