NDA seeking Farm2Food Accelerator participants

NDA is seeking participants for no-cost accelerator program connecting women in specialty crop industries with entrepreneurial resources to help grow food/beverage product businesses 

The [agri.nv.gov]Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA), alongside the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), is seeking participants for a Farm2Food accelerator program, kicking off this November. This workforce development program is designed to help Nevada women farmers and entrepreneurs with food or beverage products or product ideas expand into new markets. The Accelerator focuses on supporting women farmers who grow specialty crops for a value-added food or beverage product or those who source specialty crop ingredients in the products they make. A value-added product is defined as a product that has changed in its physical state or form, such as milling wheat for flour or making strawberries into jam. The USDA definition of  specialty crops includes fruits, vegetables, honey, tree nuts, dried fruits, culinary herbs and spices.  

Selected participants will join women from Oregon and Washington for a 15-week online program at no cost thanks to funds made available through the Nevada Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The program will provide women with the opportunity to:  

·         Gain knowledge and tools related to food safety, product development, marketing and more 

·         Connect with a community of women farmers, food entrepreneurs and food experts to exchange ideas and meet peers in other states.  

·         Launch a new food or beverage product or enhance an existing product 

“This is a great opportunity for Nevada producers and entrepreneurs,” said NDA Agricultural Literacy Coordinator Amber Smyer. “This program will support women in small-scale businesses to grow their operations, develop new business strategies and increase their chance of success.” 

An information session will be held virtually in advance of the program, on Oct. 6, 2021 from 4-5 p.m. 

Interested individuals can register for the session and apply for the program at f2faccelerator.org/nv-program.