2012 NAFDMA Networking Tour Set to Discover New Opinions from the Old Dominion
North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association announces its annual Bus Tour. The Networking Bus Tour is part of the 27th Annual NAFDMA Convention, which will be held on Feb. 10-16, 2012. The tour will begin in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Williamsburg, VA, December 11, 2011 --(PR.com)-- North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association announces its annual Bus Tour. The Networking Bus Tour is part of the 27th Annual NAFDMA Convention, which will be held on Feb. 10-16, 2012. This School on Wheels is a popular feature of the NAFDMA convention. The tour will begin on Saturday, Feb. 10 in Williamsburg, Virginia. It will then spend the next three days traveling to farm direct marketing and agritourism locations throughout Virginia.
The bus tour is unique this year, in that each individual bus will have a specific focus and discussion topics. In actuality, there is not one bus tour, but six! Each bus has a pair of tour guides that have expertise and experience in various aspects of farm direct marketing and agritourism. They will use that knowledge to facilitate discussions and promote the sharing of ideas among everyone on the bus.
At its core, every bus provides a world-class learning and networking experience blended from the tried and true recipe that NAFDMA members have come to expect. Past attendees of the NAFDMA bus tours know that the networking, sharing of ideas and friendships made while on tour are invaluable to their businesses.
Those new to the NAFDMA bus tour experience last year expressed their appreciation at the group’s willingness to share. What has worked, or not worked on their farms; success stories and disheartening failures are all discussed by bus delegates with frankness and a willingness to learn from each other. As one tour guide says, “Learn through laughter and honest conversation. No topic is off limits!”
Cynthia Chiles, owner of Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, Virginia states that one of things that is so great about NAFDMA is, “It’s the only place where you can be around other people who understand what it’s like when the tractor breaks down, or your donut machine can’t keep up; it’s great to have support system of like-minded folks.” Carter Mountain Orchard is one of the stops for some of the buses on the tour. Cynthia and her staff plan to crank up the donut machine to have hot cider donuts on hand when the NAFDMA buses stop by.
Three of the buses focus predominately farm retail. The buses will stop at farms with a concentration on produce retail and on-farm markets. Highlights of those tours will be Marker-Miller Orchards, Saunders Brothers Farm Market and Virginia Farm Market. Participants on these buses will overnight in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The remaining three buses will spotlight agritourism and on-farm entertainment. Belvedere Plantation, Cox Farms and Westmoreland Berry Farm are just some of the stops that will be featured. These tours will overnight just outside of Washington DC and will spend some of the tour exploring The National Mall and its monuments.
The bus tour is a great opportunity for those seeking new ideas or ways to improve what they already do on their farms at home. The tour will appeal to those at all levels of the farming business. Those new to agritourism, those looking to diversify their produce operation and those looking for a new on-farm activity all will find something that can enhance the experiences they offer to their customers.
Registration is now open, with a discounted rate available to those who register early. A list of tour stops for each tour option and all other details are on the NAFDMA Convention website at www.nafdma.com/VA2012.
About NAFDMA
North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association is the leading farm direct marketing and agritourism association in the world. It promotes and fosters the growth of farm direct marketing throughout North America. Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm-grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers' markets, pick-your-own farms, consumer-supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever- growing innovations in direct producer-to-consumer agricultural marketing methods.
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For more information, call Virginia Schwarzenbach at 413-207-1561 or email virginia@whiteloafridge.com
The bus tour is unique this year, in that each individual bus will have a specific focus and discussion topics. In actuality, there is not one bus tour, but six! Each bus has a pair of tour guides that have expertise and experience in various aspects of farm direct marketing and agritourism. They will use that knowledge to facilitate discussions and promote the sharing of ideas among everyone on the bus.
At its core, every bus provides a world-class learning and networking experience blended from the tried and true recipe that NAFDMA members have come to expect. Past attendees of the NAFDMA bus tours know that the networking, sharing of ideas and friendships made while on tour are invaluable to their businesses.
Those new to the NAFDMA bus tour experience last year expressed their appreciation at the group’s willingness to share. What has worked, or not worked on their farms; success stories and disheartening failures are all discussed by bus delegates with frankness and a willingness to learn from each other. As one tour guide says, “Learn through laughter and honest conversation. No topic is off limits!”
Cynthia Chiles, owner of Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville, Virginia states that one of things that is so great about NAFDMA is, “It’s the only place where you can be around other people who understand what it’s like when the tractor breaks down, or your donut machine can’t keep up; it’s great to have support system of like-minded folks.” Carter Mountain Orchard is one of the stops for some of the buses on the tour. Cynthia and her staff plan to crank up the donut machine to have hot cider donuts on hand when the NAFDMA buses stop by.
Three of the buses focus predominately farm retail. The buses will stop at farms with a concentration on produce retail and on-farm markets. Highlights of those tours will be Marker-Miller Orchards, Saunders Brothers Farm Market and Virginia Farm Market. Participants on these buses will overnight in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The remaining three buses will spotlight agritourism and on-farm entertainment. Belvedere Plantation, Cox Farms and Westmoreland Berry Farm are just some of the stops that will be featured. These tours will overnight just outside of Washington DC and will spend some of the tour exploring The National Mall and its monuments.
The bus tour is a great opportunity for those seeking new ideas or ways to improve what they already do on their farms at home. The tour will appeal to those at all levels of the farming business. Those new to agritourism, those looking to diversify their produce operation and those looking for a new on-farm activity all will find something that can enhance the experiences they offer to their customers.
Registration is now open, with a discounted rate available to those who register early. A list of tour stops for each tour option and all other details are on the NAFDMA Convention website at www.nafdma.com/VA2012.
About NAFDMA
North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association is the leading farm direct marketing and agritourism association in the world. It promotes and fosters the growth of farm direct marketing throughout North America. Its members support their family farms by selling millions of dollars worth of farm-grown produce directly to consumers at farm stands, farmers' markets, pick-your-own farms, consumer-supported agriculture, agritourism venues, and other ever- growing innovations in direct producer-to-consumer agricultural marketing methods.
###
For more information, call Virginia Schwarzenbach at 413-207-1561 or email virginia@whiteloafridge.com
Contact
NAFDMA
Virginia Schwarzenbach
413-207-1561
www.nafdma.com
Virginia Schwarzenbach
413-207-1561
www.nafdma.com
Contact
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