Workshops - OEFFA Conference

Session I

Saturday, February 14 | 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Perennial Nut Processing

Steve Larson, Route 9 Cooperative

While newly planted chestnut orchards grow to maturity over the next decade, the seven farm members of Route 9 Coop’s chestnut operation will add acorns and a coffee roaster to their system to help reach their full processing capacity, speed up the drying and roasting process, and increase revenue.

River Birch A

Zoom

Evaluate

Grain

Trade Turmoil: Risks and Opportunities

Alexander Schultz, Argus Media

In a time of rising trade tensions and shifting global dynamics, organic producers and brokers face mounting uncertainty. Get a timely analysis of how new tariffs, port fees, and evolving organic regulations—particularly under the second Trump Administration—are reshaping U.S. organic trade flows. Unpack the implications of these changes, from disrupted supply chains to emerging export trends from Africa. Gain actionable insights into how these developments affect market risk and profitability, helping navigate the challenges and seize new opportunities in the organic sector.

River Birch B

Evaluate

Livestock

Appalachia Ohio’s Artisanal Meat Production

Leslie Schaller, Appalachian Center for Economic Networks

Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet) will provide training and processing assistance to livestock farmers to expand product lines and increase sales for locally sourced, artisanal meats.

River Birch C

Evaluate

Food and Farm Movement

A Safety Net for Every Farm

Julia Barton, Organic Farmers Association, Scott Myers, Woodlyn Acres Farm

Every farm deserves a safety net. As extreme weather events and markets become more unpredictable, crop insurance becomes a key risk management tool for farmers. Gain basic information about crop insurance and related risk management tools for organic and transitioning producers. Members of the Organic Farmers Association’s Crop Insurance Workgroup are uplifting farmer voices in this topic, and will offer insights, observations, and needs.

River Birch D

Zoom

Evaluate

Sustainable Foundations

Partnerships to Scale Up Value-Added Local Food

Jeannine Seabrook, Glass Rooster Cannery

Glass Rooster Cannery was awarded two Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grants to build partnerships that help scale up locally produced, value-added foods. Learn how this team brought this vision to life, collaborating with farmers to turn fresh harvests into shelf-ready canned goods for retail markets.

Woodhull C

Zoom

Evaluate

Session I | Session II | Session III