CSA EXPERT EXCHANGE

Anonlineconference

PressRelease
ForImmediateRelease January21,2014
Contactperson:MikeQRoth Companyname:CSAExpertExchange/SmallFarm Central Telephonenumber:4125673864 Emailaddress:conference@smallfarmcentral.com Websiteaddress:csafarmconference.com

CSAFarmsFaceIncreasingPressureFrom NewFoodDistributionModels
CSAOnlineConferenceAimstoGive SmallFarmerstheToolstoKeepPace
PITTSBURGH,PA.January21,2014ThenumberoffarmsprovidingCommunitySupportedAgriculture (CSA)programsexplodedduringthe2000sasthedemandforfresh,localfoodsurged.Asthistrend becameimpossibletoignore,manyothercompaniessteppeduptotheplatetomarketlocalfood.In 2014andgoingforwardthesesmallscalefamilyfarmsfacepressurefromhugecompanieslike WalMartthathaveembracedlocalfood,venturecapitalbackedtechnologycompanies,anda multitudeofsmallerlocalfoodhubs. Tosurvivethisonslaughtofcompetition,CSAfarmersneedtoworktogethertosharebestpractices andpromotetrue,smallscalelocalizedfarmoptions.CSAfarmersalsoneedtoworktogetherto chartthefuturecourseofCSAinordertokeeptheconceptfreshandrelevantintheyearsthat come.The2014CSAExpertExchange(www.csafarmconference.com)isanonlineconference copresentedbySmallFarmCentralandthePennsylvaniaAssociationforSustainableAgriculture (PASA)thatbringsCSAfarmersfromacrosstheUnitedStatesandCanadatogethertodiscusstopics importanttothesuccessofCSAnowandintothefuture. "JoiningaCSAfarmisstillthemostdirectwaytosupportasmallscale,familyfarmgrowing highqualityproduce,buttherearenowmanyoptionsvyingforthelocalfooddollar.CSAfarmers mustbeatthetopoftheirgametoproducethehighestqualityfoodandcontinuetoarticulatewhy CSAissoimportantforboththefarmerandtheeater.ThisiswhyweorganizetheCSAExpert Exchange:tolearnfromthebestandbrightest."SimonHuntley,FounderofSmallFarmCentraland

formerCSAfarmer.

TheKnowyourfarmer.Knowyourfoodmantraisnotonethatwillsoonbepushedtothewayside. Asconsumerscontinuetopushforthatgreaterconnectionandunderstandingoftheirfoodandthe environmentinwhichitisproduced,thedemandforlocalfoodrises.CSAprograms,bytheir traditionalroots,providejustthatagenuineopportunitytoknowone'sfoodandthehandsthat producedit.TheCSAExpertExchangeoffersaplatformanetworkforlikemindedfarmersand supporterstogather,tolearn,andtobeinspiredtokeepfightingthegoodfight.KarlaPankow, BossyAcres ThisyearsCSAExpertExchangewilloccurliveonMarch6thand7th,2014.Thefirstdaywillbean eveningsessionfocusingonbeginningCSAfarmersrunningfrom7pmuntil9:30pmEST.Thesecond daywillcoveravarietyoftopicsrelevanttoCSAfarmersofalllevelsofexperiencebeginningat 11:00amESTandrunninguntil3:30pmEST.Nationwide,theconferenceisexpectedtoengage between250300CSAfarmers.Theconferencewillbeaccessibleviaanywebbrowserattendeeswill beavailabletowatchvideoofpresenters,viewpowerpointslides,andinteractviachattoask questions.Thefeeis$70forbothdaysandregistrationisopenatcsafarmconference.com. Presentersinclude DavidLikerofGormanFarm,Columbia,MD ChloeDiegelandAlexMcKiernenfromRobinetteFarms,Martell,NE KarlaPankowofBossyAcres,Northfield,MN RachelArmstrongofFarmCommons ChrisBrockelofFairShareCSACoalition PamDawlingofGrowingForMarketandTwinOaksCommunity,Louisa,VA MichaelKilpatrickofKilpatrickFamilyFarm,MiddleGranville,NY

### About PASA With over 6,000 members, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) is one of the largest and most active sustainable agriculture organizations in the U.S. Through educational programs and regional marketing assistance for farmers, advocacy, and public outreach, PASA seeks to promote profitable farms that produce healthy food for all people while respecting the natural environment. PASAs hallmark event, the Farming for the Future Conference, draws thousands of participants from more than 30 states and six countries each February. For more information, visit pasafarming.org. About Small Farm Central Small Farm Central is a leading technology provider to small-scale farms across the U.S. and Canada. Started by an former CSA farmer, Small Farm Central provides farm websites, CSA member management services, and more to help increase the economic sustainability of small-scale farmers by creating professional and engaging experiences for the farms customers. Small Farm Centrals Member Assembler technology is built to manage the office side of the CSA from online member signup and payment processing to box packing and delivery logistics. For more information, visit smallfarmcentral.com.