The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the University of Wisconsin-Extension will present monthly Local Food Business Seminars through May. The Lincoln County UW-Extension Office will host the seminar series as free webinars at the Lincoln County Service Center, 801 N. Sales St., Merrill.
The November webinar will be held on Nov. 8 from 8:15 to 11:45 a.m. The webinar will feature DATCP’s Carl Rainey, who will take your business idea from inception to product launch. Learn about practical strategies for testing a business idea in the marketplace, hear examples of other local food business start-ups, and gain knowledge in the principles of lean business strategies.
December’s webinar is planned for Dec. 6 from 8:15 to 11:45 a.m. This webinar will help local food businesses understand the legalities of running a business. Rachel Armstrong of Farm Commons and Courtney Berner from the UW Center for Cooperatives will address the legal issues involved with starting and running your own food or farm business. Topics will range from the pros and cons of different business types to insurance needs and employment law. The seminar will be interactive and attendees will walk away with new skills and a deeper understanding of their business.
Additional seminar details will continue to be announced. February seminars will discuss food safety requirements and available resources. Marketing 201 will be presented in March and cover packaging/labeling, social marketing, e-commerce, and web presence. A panel of buyers from restaurants, food service directors and grocery stores will present in April. May seminars will cover what is needed to sell through a distributor.
To register or to learn more about all the upcoming workshops, contact Dan Marzu, Lincoln & Marathon Counties UW-Extension Agricultural Development Educator, at 715-539-1078 or [email protected].