Seminar focuses on creating agritourism

Southeast Missouri State University's Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is hosting "Know Local, Buy Local, Eat Local" on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

The seminar is for students and the public "focusing on marketing strategies for small growers, organic producers and agritourism destinations," Glenna Ervin, an administrative assistant for CIE, said.

The seminar will feature six local resource providers and producers, who will speak on their experiences starting businesses and why growing locally is important.

"As people become more concerned about food safety and quality, and about the environmental impact of sourcing food from around the world, there is growing demand for locally grown and produced food," Dr. James Stapleton, executive director of CIE, said. CIE has been working with the agriculture department for a while, trying to raise awareness about the opportunities available for alternative agricultural.

Dr. Michael Aide, the chairperson of the Departmen tof Agriculture, will be speaking during the seminar on "How Southeast University can help small growers?"

"The faculty [in the Department of Agriculture] are the active ones, but I market my faculty," said Aide. The department developed the Charles L. Hutson Horticulture Greenhouse, where they plant different organic vegetables and fruits to sell to Chartwells for student food and an organic landscape waste facility. The department is also working on a hydroponics unit to raise fish and shrimp for Chartwells.

"We're in a position to assist the local community with expertise," said Aide. "Collectively [the speakers] are trying to build up the industry around here."

Other speakers will include Gerry Jones, who opened Jones Heritage Farm--an all-natural farm--about a year ago, Diana Koenig from Perryville Pumpkin Farm, Stephan McKaskle from McKaskle Family Farm, Dr. Van Ayers from the University of Missouri Extension and Tony Anderson from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

We want "community members who have small parcels of land to know that they can turn it into a productive business," Aide said. By growing grapes on four acres of land and selling the grapes to wineries, a farmer can make about $40,000 annually he said. "More and more people are looking for local foods…and we're proud to be involved in that movement," Aide said.

"One of the most important aspects of this event will be the networking and exchanging of ideas that take place," Stapleton said. "The current local growers and individuals interested in starting new agriculture businesses that attend the event will exchange strategies to improve the marketing and distribution of their current and future products."