GrowRIVERSIDE Conference Streaming Live!

June 10, 2015 | seedstock

If for some reason you can’t make it to the GrowRIVERSIDE Future of Local Conference, which starts tomorrow, don’t fret. You can catch the entire event, streamed live right here:

http://livestream.com/accounts/6862664/events/4119530

Check it out!

We will also be recording all of the conference sessions for later viewing.

If you’re looking for more information on the 2016 3rd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: Cultivating the Future, you can find out more about the program here and register here!

Conference to Help Cities Develop Solutions to Strengthen Local Food and Urban Agriculture Infrastructure

June 5, 2015 | Iqbal Pittalwala

Limited Tickets Available for “GrowRIVERSIDE” Conference June 11

June 1, 2015 | seedstock

Riverside, CA (PRWEB) June 01, 2015 – This is the final call for registration to attend the 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food, June 11 – 13 at The Riverside Convention Center. The conference will assist cities in examining and developing solutions to strengthen their local food systems and urban agriculture infrastructure.

Organized for the city of Riverside by Seedstock co-founder Robert Puro, the conference will feature a broad lineup of speakers ranging from urban agriculture entrepreneurs, USDA representatives from Marketing Services and Rural Development, startup business experts from the U.S. Small Business Administration, local food policy experts, sustainable farmers and hydroponic practitioners as well as numerous buyers and distributors of local produce. Read More

Building the Future of Local Food – Lessons in Launching a Local Food Enterprise

June 1, 2015 | Robert Puro

Starting up and funding a local food-focused small business – from launching a new farm to creating a value-added product (jam for example) using local products – is both exciting and challenging. To offer guidance, support and information on the steps that entrepreneurs can take to give their fledgling business endeavors the greatest chance to succeed and thrive, Paul Smith, Business Development Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration, along with a team of start up business experts will lead a breakout session at the upcoming GrowRIVERSIDE Conference entitled, “Launching and funding a local food enterprise.”

This session will provide prospective and existing entrepreneurs with insight into how to get their businesses off the ground via an explanation of core business creation steps – from business planning, accessing capital, marketing, sales, and more.

Paul Smith is an accomplished professional with twenty-five years experience in business development. His career encompasses both the private and public sectors. His experience includes sales management, direct marketing, export promotion, and matchmaking, for markets worldwide. As Business Development Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration Mr. Smith is responsible for outreach to the business community for the Santa Ana District office.

Paul’s session will be comprised of a group of accomplished entrepreneurs and business development specialists including:

Nicole Kinney, Director of the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center (IEWBC)

Vincent McCoy Director of the Inland Empire Small Business Development Center

Diana Cescolini Professor of Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Business, & Management and Chapter Chair for SCORE Inland Empire

Anthony Lattner Chief Instructor for Cal Poly Pomona’s Sustainable Agriculture Training (SAT) program at Archi’s Acres

There are only 10 days left until the conference and tickets are going fast, so register now to attend this session and learn how to give your local food-focused business the best chance for success!

Register Here: http://growriverside.eventbrite.com

If you’re looking for more information on the 2016 3rd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: Cultivating the Future, you can find out more about the program here and register here!

From Food Access to Entrepreneurship, Keys to Building a Strong Local Food System

May 30, 2015 | Robert Puro

To build a strong local food system cities must examine how to increase food access to citizens living in food deserts in need of fresh and healthy food. The development of effective food policy that advances agricultural economic development and infrastructure and fosters education about food and urban farming is also essential. So too is support for the development and start-up of new local food-focused business ventures.

Expert speakers set to participate in the 2nd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food will dive deeply into all of the above mentioned areas, and more, to come up with solutions designed to guide Riverside and cities across the country in the development of vibrant and sustainable local food systems. The conference begins in only 12 days on June 11, 2015 at The Riverside Convention Center in Riverside, California.

Select GrowRIVERSIDE Conference breakout session topics include:

 

Market Development for New Farmers – featuring:

Ramiro Lobo has been the Small Farm and Agricultural Economics Advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension in San Diego County since 1997. Ramiro is one of several Farm Advisors affiliated with the University of California Small Farm Program and his primary responsibility is to conduct research and educational activities to support small-scale agricultural producers in San Diego County. Ramiro’s work focuses primarily on educating small scale producers on topics related to agricultural business and risk management, new crop development and evaluation, new entry grower education, market development through agricultural tourism and direct marketing, and Food and pesticide safety education. Read More

GrowRIVERSIDE Keynote A.G. Kawamura Featured in Fortune Article on Urban Agriculture

May 28, 2015 | Robert Puro

A.G. Kawamura, a 3rd generation farmer and former Secretary of the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture (2003 – 2010) was recently featured in a Fortune Magazine article entitled, ‘Commercial farming in your subdivision’, which discusses the challenges and opportunities of urban farming within the confines of a city that has very little traditional farmland. Kawamura and his family have created a thriving commercial urban farming business that could provide a model for the City of Riverside and others to follow.

Kawamura will be delivering a keynote and participating in a breakout session at the upcoming GrowRIVERSIDE Conference on June 11 at The Riverside Conference. You won’t want to miss it! Read the Fortune article and If you’re looking for more information on the 2016 3rd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: Cultivating the Future, you can find out more about the program here and register here!

Water Usage, Policy and Technology and the Impact on Agriculture in Riverside and Beyond

May 27, 2015 | Robert Puro

California is in a drought crisis and urban water providers have been ordered to reduce demands by as much as 36%. Statewide, farmers are facing curtailments to their surface water rights and are rapidly depleting their local groundwater basins. Riverside, fortunately, is blessed with a secure, local, and sustainable groundwater supply, in no small part due to its agricultural heritage.

To explore the latest water challenges and opportunities for local agriculture in Riverside and beyond, please join us at the upcoming GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: The Future of Local Food where a panel of water experts will come together to discuss current water policy, the impact of the drought on growers in the city, region and state, and how growers can use water efficiently and economically.

Kevin S. Milligan was named the Deputy General Manager for Riverside Public Utilities in December 2014. He also serves as the Assistant General Manager in charge of Water Delivery. He started his career with RPU in 1984 as an entry level engineering aide, advancing steadily to principal water engineer before joining the executive management staff in 2005.

Craig Miller, a veteran engineering professional with more than 25 years of experience, serves as Western’s deputy general manager. He’s responsible for assisting with managing the day-to-day activities of the District, including oversight of Operations, Engineering, Community Affairs and Water Resources.

Justin Scott-Coe, Public Affairs Director for the Monte Vista Water District, has over 11 years of experience in water resource management and public affairs program development. During his eight years at the District, Mr. Scott-Coe has served in and now manages the Public Affairs Department, providing public information, water resource planning, and demand management services.

Celeste Cantu is the General Manager, for the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority and the Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plan called One Water One Watershed (OWOW) that addresses multiple issues and achieve sustainability in the Santa Ana River Watershed. Ms. Cantu has served as the Executive Director for the California State Water Resources Control Board and served as the USDA Rural Development State Director for California during the Clinton Administration.

The conference begins in 15 days. Register now to attend this session and many others to learn how to build and strengthen the local food and agriculture in the City of Riverside and beyond.

If you’re looking for more information on the 2016 3rd Annual GrowRIVERSIDE Conference: Cultivating the Future, you can find out more about the program here and register here!