Downeast Agriculture Conference

ocean bay with fishing boats and a high tunnel with tomato cropsSaturday, January 18, 2020
(Snow date: January 25, 2020)
Lee/Pellon Center, 90 Main Street, Machias, Maine

Register online

Both land and sea based production will be included. The full agenda is below!

Our goals for this event are to:

  1. Bring agricultural education and resources to Hancock and Washington counties.
  2. Connect farmers with other farmers, stakeholders, and organizations.

Would you like to have a table at this event and/or contribute a donation?
Email: lily.calderwood@maine.edu

This being the first year, we would like everyone to be able to attend and or contribute. Here are three different ways you could contribute to making this event a successful:

  • Request to have a table where your resources and/or products are displayed
  • Contribute a monetary donation ($50-$500 range) to help pay for the event
  • Donate a raffle prize, food item, or table decoration

If you are unable to attend, or wish to support this event without company promotion, donations are welcome.

If you or your organization would like to support this event and attend, please email lily.calderwood@maine.edu.

Agenda

8:30-9:15: Welcome and Wild Blueberry Family Farm Future, Dr. Lily Calderwood, Assistant Professor of Horticulture and Extension Wild Blueberry Specialist

9:15-10:00: High Tunnel Production, Dr. Mark Hutton, Associate Professor of Vegetable Crops and Extension Vegetable Specialist

10:00-10:45: Seaweed Production, Jaclyn Robidoux, Marine Extension Associate, Maine Sea Grant Program at the University of Maine

10:45-12:00: Grower Panel: Overcoming Challenges in Downeast Maine. Goal: Shed light on challenges AND solutions

12:00-1:00: LUNCH; Catered by Angie’s Catering

1:00-1:45: Shellfish, Bait Fish, and Shared Waters, Dana Morse and Jaclyn Rabidoux, Marine Extension Associates, Maine Sea Grant Program at the University of Maine

1:45-2:30: Distribution of Goods in Downeast Maine, TBD

2:30-3:15: Value-added and Agri-tourism Ideas, Crystal Hitchings, Washington County Council of Governments

3:15-4:15: Grower Panel: Opportunities for Collaboration. Goal: Discuss processing and distribution overlap

Directions

If you are a person with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Mary Michaud at mary.j.michaud@maine.edu or 207.581.3175 to discuss your needs. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 10 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request, however all requests will be considered.