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Farmer's Market and Gardeners Workshop

The UC Extension along with Lake County Grown.com hosted a Farmer’s Market and Gardeners Workshop on March 11, 2011. There were 19 local farmers and gardeners that attended the event, which was held at Angel's Rockhouse in Finley where the participants enjoyed a nice lunch.

Guest speakers included Glenn McGourty, UC Farm Advisor; Marita Marita Cantwell, PhD, from UC Davis; Shermain Hardesty Ph. D., Director of the UC Small Farm Program; Ray Ruminski, Director of Lake County Environmental Health; Steve Hajik, Lake County Agriculture Commissioner; and Specialty Grower Sky Hoyt.

Mr. McGourty started off the workshop with sharing information on Crop Selection and Care for Small Farms.

Mr. McGourty's specialty is Plant Science including wine grapes, vegetables, viticulture, nursery and floriculture.

Marita Cantwell, PhD.,Postharvest Specialist shared her knowledge of post harvest handling of produce.

Dr. Cantwell conducts research and education programs for the benefit of UC Advisors, vegetable grower-shippers-freshcut processors, and handlers and distributors of fresh products.

Shermain Hardesty Ph. D., Extension Economist Agricultural & Resource Economics presented her insight on Direct Marketing and Produce Quality.

Click on the link below to view Dr. Hardesty's power point presentation.

Link: Direct Marketing & Produce Quality presentation.

The afternoon continued with local speakers Ray Ruminski, Director of Lake County Environmental Health, and Steve Hajik, Lake County Agriculture Commissioner. They discussed resale and tracking regulations dealing with resale markets.

Specialty Grower Sky Hoyt, shared with the farmers information regarding the Fruit Frost Service and how to utilize this service in production practices. Sky then concluded the workshop speaking on Financial Planning and things to consider when making a Farm Business Plan.