Farmers Invited to Attend Workshop on Developing Consumer Trust

Consumers are more curious than ever about where their food comes from and how it’s grown. They drive the trends that impact the entire food chain. In an age of social media, viral videos and smartphones, the amount of information at one’s fingertips can be overwhelming, so how do farmers ensure their friends, neighbors and community members have the right information when making food choices for their families? Thoughtful conversations. Sharing stories. Building trust. The best advocates for agriculture are farmers themselves.

Hungry for Truth invites South Dakota farmers to join the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) and the South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (SDSRPC) for a half-day session focused on empowering farmers to effectively connect with consumers and build trust in today’s food system.

“Tackling Tough Conversations – How to Talk to Consumers About Food and Farming” will take place on Thursday, March 23, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the McCrory Gardens in Brookings, S.D. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited so register early to be part of the conversation here.

“Farmers are constantly encouraged to share our stories and answer questions about how food is grown and raised, but sometimes those can be challenging conversations,” said Marc Reiner, chairman of the SDSRPC and co-chair for the Hungry for Truth initiative. “This workshop will help farmers start the dialog and have confidence in their message.”

Attendees will get an overview of consumers’ attitudes about today’s food system including results from the latest CFI consumer trust research on food and agricultural issues. Keynote speaker Donna Moenning will teach participants skills to successfully engage with consumers and answer difficult questions.

Farmers will also have the opportunity to learn about how to get involved with the Hungry for Truth initiative, which focuses on fostering conversations between farmers and consumers about how food is grown and raised in South Dakota. If you have any questions, please call the South Dakota Soybean office at 605.330.9942.

To register, click here.