Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
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Extension Communications |
10/24/03
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Kathleen Delate, Agronomy and Horticulture Departments, (515)-294-7069, kdelate@iastate.edu
Amy Freiburger, Agronomy and Horticulture Departments, (515)-294-5116, afreibur@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515)-294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Organic Conference to Feature Marketing Strategies
AMES, Iowa - The organic farming industry is expanding 20 percent annually and in 2002 it became a $10 billion industry. With this industry expansion there are many opportunities and issues that make organic farming a good option for many producers.
The 3rd Annual Iowa Organic Conference will be held Monday, Nov. 17 at Iowa State University in Ames. The conference will feature marketing strategies and techniques for organic producers.
"We anticipate three hundred participants at this conference based on increasing consumer interests in organic food and Iowa farmers' ability to meet this demand," said Kathleen Delate, assistant professor of horticulture and agronomy at Iowa State University.
Theresa Marquez, Director of Marketing for Organic Valley Cooperative, will be the keynote speaker. Other speakers include Patty Judge, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, and Neil Hamilton, Director of Drake University's Agricultural Law Center and Chair of the Iowa Food Policy Council.
Topics for individual breakout sessions include organic flower production, marketing organic grains, GMOs and world trade and biological controls in organics. Conference participants will be able to attend three sessions.
The cost is $65 for registrations paid and postmarked by Oct. 31 and $70 for on-site registrations or those postmarked after Oct. 31. Register online at http://www.ucs.iastate.edu. Registration fee includes an organic lunch and a trade show.
The conference is sponsored by Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Practical Farmers of Iowa, Organic Valley Cooperative and the National Center for Appropriate Technology.
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