COLLEGE STATION — Meeting future markets will be the theme for the 13th annual Texas Herb Growers and Marketers Association conference here Sept. 18- 20 at the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M University campus.
The public is invited to participate. Registration is $85 for association members or $120 for non-members.
A series of round table discussions will open the event on Sept. 18 to discuss computer programs and business, new plants in the trade, promotion and marketing, expanding a business, and nomenclature and labeling.
Steven Foster, author of “Herbal Renaissance: Growing, Using and Understanding Herbs in the Modern World,” will be the keynote speaker at 8 a.m. Sept. 19. His presentation will be on marketing medicinal herbs for the 21st century as traditional and newly developed herbs emerge in a rapidly expanding market.
Also addressing medicinal herbs will be Travis Johnson of the Desert Herb Co., Chamerino, N.M., and Brian Cooper, Hauser Chemical Research, Inc., Boulder, Colo. Johnson and Cooper will address the aspects of crops to grow, harvesting and processing techniques, marketing, and standard product manufacturing procedures.
On the culinary side of herbs, Ken Schultz of Rose Hill Herbs will talk about growing and processing for the wholesale market and Jeryl Lum of Mint To Be Herbs will discuss expanding one’s business to meet an existing restaurant trade. Their focus will be on the strategies and realities of producing fresh-cut culinary herbs as a business. George Finch of Third Coast Produce will talk about meeting the buyer and fresh-cut brokering.
Production economics will be the topic for Dr. Charles Hall, Texas Agricultural Extension Service economist. John Jones of Teas Herbs and Orchids will discuss developing business plans and banking. Michael Bettler and Lucia Bettler, both of Lucia’s Garden, will present strategies on meeting the public to bring them into your business.
Dr. Sam Cotner, head of Texas A&M University’s horticultural sciences department, will be the banquet speaker Sept. 19.
Closing the conference Sept. 20 will be a panel discussion on “Growing Your Business,” to answer questions and map out industry objectives.
For more information about registering for the conference, contact Jacque Hand, (979) 845-7692.
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