Growing Opportunities Conference

Sean Wise, producer of CBC's Dragons' Den, will be one of the presenters at the Growing Opportunities conference March 25-26 in Dartmouth. The day-and-a-half conference will address challenges producers face when selling goods in the local market.

"We continue to see a demand from consumers for locally produced food in the market place," said Agriculture Minister Brooke Taylor. "This conference is about the selling side of business and how producers and processors can increase the supply of local goods to keep pace with this growing demand."

The conference will include a mix of local entrepreneurs and individuals from across North America such as Diana Endicott of Good Natured Family Farms and John Turenne of Sustainable Foods Systems. The presentations will focus on challenges and opportunities in retail, direct marketing and institutional purchasing.

The cost of the conference is $125. It will be held at the Holiday Inn Harbourview, Dartmouth. Information and registration forms are available at www.gov.ns.ca/agri/bde . A dinner and awards reception will feature Andy Nulman, co-founder of the Just for Laughs Festival.

The conference is funded through the Renewal Chapter of the Canada-Nova Scotia Agricultural Policy Framework Agreement.