Features Fruit Production
NAFDMA retreat offers inside look at retail farm

June 4, 2012 – The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) will bring its seventh annual Advanced Learning Retreat (ALR) to Tanners Orchard in Speer, Ill., on August 17 to 20.

The ALR is an exclusive event designed to give attendees an opportunity to advance their own farm direct marketing business by brainstorming and learning with like-minded peers in facilitated small group settings.

Tanners Orchard is an 80-acre retail and agri-entertainment farm. The market and bakery are among the most successful on the continent. It is known for homespun traditional appearances up front, with progressive and up-to-date management operations behind the scenes. The farm is also adding to its agri-entertainment activities.

A hard freeze in April damaged the farm’s apple crop, changing the entire outlook for 2012. However, the ALR is designed for the marketing side of business, so attendees will see firsthand what can be done in an adverse production year.

Jennifer Beaver, a key member of the ownership at Tanners Orchard, is very excited about hosting the ALR event.

“I am sure everyone who attends will take a few ideas home and I hope they leave one here for us,” she said. “The folks who will attend are some of the best in the country at what they do so it will be a learning experience for all of us. We open in late July so by August 17th we will ready and raring to go.”

Among the education session topics are management, marketing, displays, food service, and bakery operations. There will also be sessions focused on the agri-entertainment business, including how Tanners Orchard handles more than 77,000 people on Saturdays and Sundays in September and October.

Complete details can be found here.