Do you oversee a farmers market in Michigan? Does your market offer cooking demonstrations and product samples for customers? Do you need professional development hours to re-certify your Market Manager Certificate? If so, you may be interested to learn that the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) released new guidelines for cooking demonstrations and sampling in the spring of 2015. The Michigan Farmers Market Association (MIFMA) and MDARD are teaming up to provide free educational sessions for farmers market managers, chefs, regulators, and nutrition educators this fall. The two-hour sessions will take place across the state and participants will delve into the MDARD Farmers Market Food Establishment Plan Review. 

The educational sessions will take place at the following locations across Michigan:

Marquette, MI - Saturday, Sept. 19 – Register Now
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
(in conjunction with the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market)
Marquette Commons
112 South Third Street
Marquette, MI 49985 

Lansing, MI - Thursday, Sept. 24 – Register Now
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
(in conjunction with the Farmers Market at the Capitol)
Meeting Location TBD
Lansing, MI 

Canton, MI - Sunday, Oct. 4 – Register Now
10 a.m. – noon
(in conjunction with the Canton Farmers Market)
Preservation Park
500 N. Ridge Rd
Canton, MI

Frankenmuth, MI - Wednesday, Oct. 7 – Register Now
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
(in conjunction with the Frankenmuth Farmers Market)

600 block of Main St. 
Frankenmuth, MI 48734

For more information, please contact MIFMA or your local Michigan State University Extension Community Food Systems Educator.