Webinar– How to Sell Domestic Food to the USDA

March 7, 2014 –

Hi:

This might be of interest to some:

How to Sell Domestic Foods to the USDA
Thursday, March 20, 2014
2:00 – 3:00 Eastern Time

On Thursday March 20, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will present a free interactive webinar, “How to Sell Domestic Foods to the USDA.”

Each year, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) buys nearly $2 billion and 2 billion pounds of frozen, processed, and fresh
fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and eggs. Otherwise known as “USDA Foods.” These healthy, American grown and processed
products help feed millions of school children and are also distributed to food banks, disaster areas, and wherever else they are needed.
AMS proudly buys “USDA Foods” from a diverse pool of companies, both large and small. For this webinar, we will be placing special
emphasis on contracting information for small, socially disadvantaged, women-owned, and service disabled veteran-owned businesses,
as well as those in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB Zones). Note: The small business size standard for federal
contractors in “USDA Foods” procurement is 500 employees or less (except for shell eggs, which is $12.5 million in annual revenue).
Sara Hernandez and Dianna Price of the AMS Commodity Procurement Staff will: · introduce you to USDA purchasing activities and “USDA Foods,” · discuss the types of products USDA buys,
· explain the solicitation and award process
· outline the requirements for selling to USDA, and
· give you the tools and resources you’ll need to explore doing business with the USDA.
Following the formal presentation, the webinar will conclude with an interactive question and answer session. Feel free to submit questions before the webinar to sara.hernandez@ams.usda.gov.
Visit the USDA’s AMS Commodity Procurement website to see what products AMS buys. Then tune in to this webinar to learn everything you need to get started selling your products to USDA.
This informative webinar is designed for growers, producers, processors and distributors of all sizes. The webinar is free and
available to anyone with Internet access. However, registration is required and space is limited. Visit (https://amsfv.webex.com/amsfv/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=664780806) to register today!
We will host webinars on more AMS programs and services throughout the year. To view previous webinars online, visit our Webinar Archive.
We’ll see you online! REGISTER TODAY!
have any questions about the webinars or AMS, please contact Christopher Purdy at (202) 720-3209 or christopher.purdy@ams.usda.gov.

Important Meeting on Navigating Federal Laws on Farm Labor

March 6, 2014 –

Hello:

Please consider attending this workshop – the US Department of Labor has been working with VT Farms and many
have been found to be not following regulations. It is important that those of us working with farms know at least a bit about what is required and how to make sure farms are in compliance.

Navigating Federal Laws on Farm Labor

Is your farm in compliance with federal payroll requirements?

Upcoming workshop will provide federal payroll training for farmers.

The workshop will be held from 8:30am to 12:30pm on April 4th at the VT State House Room 11

Federal laws like the Fair Labor Standards Act have been a hot topic in recent months, as farmers around New
England have been facing increased enforcement of labor regulations. Several local farms have faced heavy
fines for inadvertent violations to these laws, sparking debate about the details of these laws and how they
are being interpreted. Daniel Cronin and Christopher Mills of the U.S. Dept. of Labor will tease apart some of
the nuances of these laws and explain how they are being enforced by the Dept. of Labor. In particular, they
will explain where the line is currently drawn between types of farm work that are and aren’t exempt from the laws’ provisions.

Join us for this workshop.

When: April 4, 2014 8:30am-12:30 pm

Where: Vermont State House, Room 11, Montpelier

RSVP: By March 28th to Louise Waterman at 802-828-6900 or Louise.Waterman@state.vt.us

Workshop Flyer Attached

Flyer-Navagating Federal Laws on Farm Labor-meeting April 4th.pdf