Food & Drink Innovation Network » FARM & MORE – A BOLD NEW EVENT FOR DIVERSIFIED FARMING

FARM & MORE – A BOLD NEW EVENT FOR DIVERSIFIED FARMING

January 25th, 2010

FARM & MORE, a new event to be held at the Telford International Centre from 25-27 January 2010, is a bold statement of confidence in farm retailing and the diversified farming sector.

The organisation behind the event, the National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (FARMA), has a long history of running successful conferences that have inspired many businesses who are now firmly established as sector-leaders.

Jim Fitzpatrick, MP, Minister for Food, Farming and the Environment at DEFRA opens proceedings on Tuesday 26 January, 2010, before the conference breaks into six themes that promise to bring fresh ideas and new directions for all kinds of diversified farming, farmers’ markets and artisan food businesses.

Preceding this, on Monday 25 January, delegates will participate in four tours visiting 17 farm retail and attractions businesses, including Ludlow Food Centre and Hatton Country World; while on Wednesday 27 January there is a free-to-attend trade show with up to 100 exhibitors covering food, retail and leisure. The trade show is available to all whether attending the conference or not, and is free providing that delegates have pre-registered at www.farmandmore.org.uk

To be launched at the event, farm shop certification and producer verification schemes will underpin the consumer trust in the farm retail sector. Also getting underway at the event is the first, professional benchmarking for the sector, led by benchmarking guru, Dennis Reid who is among the key speakers at the conference. Farm shop certification and producer verification have both been supported through their development phases with a grant from Defra.

Participants at previous FARMA conferences stress their significance in the direct sales sector. ‘The conference was a turning point,’ said Andy Jeffery, Farrington’s Farm Shop, Bristol. ‘It was after listening to speakers and talking to delegates at the 1999 conference, ten years ago, that we decided we had to develop our small farm shop – and our business has gone from strength to strength since then.’

‘I am very excited about Farm & More’, said FARMA chairman, Stuart Beare who is also among the speakers, talking about his Award-winning Halloween event on the farm.

‘It is just what our industry needs. The past eighteen months have been difficult for almost everyone in the sector, but it’s now time to revive. Farm & More is the only event in the UK to focus on the whole of the diversified farming sector, with fresh ideas and strategies to make sure that, as the economy recovers, we build on what makes us distinctive and make the most of our opportunities.’

All details and a booking form are on www.farmandmore.org.uk along with pre-registration for the Farm & More trade show, essential for a free ticket to the event. Or call 0845 45 88 420 to find out more and request a brochure.

The Food & Drink Innovation Network

FARM & MORE – A BOLD NEW EVENT FOR DIVERSIFIED FARMING

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