MIDDLEBURY —  Following ACORN’s successful Producer Buyer forum in November, the organization will offer a series of winter workshops covering a range of business development. These meet-ups include peer to peer sharing on a range of topics.
The first workshop will be offered on Thursday, Jan. 25 from 9:30-noon at the UVM Extension office in Middlebury. Tips and merchandising strategies to improving sales are shared by Annie Harlow, retail services consultant to NOFA and Vermont Farm to Plate.
A second workshop will be held on Thursday,  Feb. 1, in a happy hour for emerging businesses at Stonecutter Spirits. Krin Barberi of Krin’s Bakery, Eliza La Rocca of Farmhouse Chocolates, and Sas Stewart of Stonecutter Spirits will team up to give their take on incrementally growing a business. Each provides their tips on how to prepare organizationally and how to navigate unforeseen obstacles. There will be plenty of time for give and take from the audience and B2B networking at each event in the series.
In addition to these two events, ACORN will host small workshops, gatherings and meet-ups throughout Addison County. All topics are chosen from the Nov. 10 Producer Buyer Forum evaluations and feedback provided by ACORN members, and include Growing Your Business, Retailing for Farmers, Ag-Tourism, A Grower’s Take on Hemp on meeting the new market demand, and several more.
Topical, targeted and casual, these meetings bring together our farm, food and forest producers. ACORN Executive Director Lynn Coale puts it this way “As we strive to increase the use of local foods, our efforts are enhanced when we broaden business to business sharing to meet the needs of emerging businesses.”
Join ACORN for engaging conversations through the topical meet-ups and workshops. To find the full list of workshops and to sign up for the January 25th workshop head to ACORNVT.org.  Space is limited. All gatherings are working to meet Vermont’s Farm to Plate goals and are #RootedinVermont. For more information contact Annie Harlow at 802-922-7060.