Committed to building sustainable, equitable,
community-driven food systems to strengthen
the local food economy and promote healthy
lifestyles in the Mississippi Delta.
FEBRUARY
Growing Together Garden Contest! Delta Fresh Foods announces an exciting Delta-wide competition, with a $500 Grand Prize, to promote and celebrate the church, community and youth gardeners who serve as catalysts to produce fresh food and a healthy Delta community. Deadline to enter is February 15, and the competition will begin February 18 with final growing documentation due in September and awards at the Delta Fresh Foods Harvest Celebration in October. To enter, visit our facebook page or contact Ryan Betz at rbetz@deltahealthalliance.org or (601) 832-2785 for complete details.
Download the Application
Free EBT Equipment for Qualified Applicants
February 9
EBT Farmers Retail Meeting is Thursday, February 9, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - Forestry Building, MS Agriculture and Forestry Museum in Jackson. If you are interested in attending the meeting, a registration form is due by February 3, 2012. THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND. For more information contact Purvie Green at (601) 359-1168 or purvie@mdac.state.ms.us.
Fruit & Vegetable Producers Conference
February 9-10
Northeast MS Fruit and Vegetable Producers Association Educational Conference and Tradeshow February 9-10, 2012 at the Lee County AgriCenter Magnolia Building in Verona, MS. The $20 covers lunch on Thursday, CD with all presentations, notebook, production manual, and NEMSFVGA membership for a year. For more info contact Scott Cagle at (662) 456-4269 or scottc@ext.msstate.edu.
Eat Healthy Mississippi Promotes Local Produce
February 13-21
MS Hospitality and Restaurant Association is holding meetings so you can learn more about their Eat Healthy Mississippi initiative. Please RSVP to Grady Griffin at 800-898-0343/601-420-4210 or by email at gradygriffin@msra.org for any of the following meetings:
Starkville- February 13th- 3:00 - 4:00 P.M., The Veranda, 208 Lincoln Green
Oxford- February 15th- 3:00 - 4:00 P.M., Boure', 110 Courthouse Square
Tupelo- February 16th- 3:00 - 4:00 P.M., Tupelo CVB, 399 East Main St
Gulfport- February 20th- 3:00 - 4:00 P.M., Knight Non-Profit Center, 11975 Seaway Rd
Hattiesburg- February 21st- 3:00 - 4:00 P.M., Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza
Growing Together Garden Workshop
February 18
Growing Together Garden Network Workshop is Saturday, February 18, 9am-1pm at the Indianola Community Garden between Jefferson and Oak Streets next to Carver Elementary School. A hands on workshop on proper planting of spring crops will be lead by Edwin Marty, of the Hampstead Institute community farms in Montgomery. Edwin is also the founder of Jones Valley Urban Farm in Birmingham. To RSVP, contact Ryan Betz at (601) 832-2785 or rbetz@deltahealthalliance.org. All church, community and youth gardeners in the MS Delta are welcome!
Farm to School Summit
February 25
Statewide Farm to School Summit in Raymond, MS, at Eagle’s Ridge Conference Center. For more information visit www.ggsim.org.
Master Gardeners Class in your County
2012 Schedule for the Mississippi State Master Gardeners training. People interested can contact their local extension office or visit the website.
MARCH
Learn How to Market to MS Retailers
March 2
Mississippi Market Ready™ Training for Growers will be held March 2 in Pontotoc. This program is specifically for producers who would like to begin selling to restaurants, retailers, or institutions and those who want to increase this area of their business. For more info visit our website.
Saving Rural America
March 2-3
Winston County Self Help Cooperative's 5th Saving Rural America Conference is March 2-3, 2012 beginning at 6am at the Louisville Coliseum in Louisville, MS. For more information, visit www.wcshc.com.
Women in Agriculture Conference
March 9-10
2012 MS Women for Agriculture Conference is March 9-10 at the Bost Extension Center, MSU Campus. For more information, visit msucares.com/womenforag.
MS Association of Cooperatives
March 15-17
Mississippi Association of Cooperatives Annual Meeting will be held March 15-17, 2012 in Jackson, MS. For more information contact (601) 354-2750 or visit www.mississippiassociation.coop.
Free Legal Clinic for Growers
March 17
Free Legal Clinic for Growers Saturday, March 17 in Clarksdale. Law students from Harvard University Law School and the University of Mississippi will team up to provide information and free legal services to help local growers with ownership issues like heir property and land titles. Co-sponsored by the Delta Fresh Foods Initiative and Delta Directions. For more info about the workshop or to sign up, contact Judy Belue at (662) 404-5004 or jwbelue1@gmail.com.
ASU Small Farmers Conference
March 26-28
2012 Alcorn State University Small Farmers Conference is March 26-28 in Natchez, MS. For more info call (877) 427-9536 or visit www.smallfarmersconference.org.
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