Impact of a Specialty Cut Flower Workshop On Attendees Actions to Implement Risk Management Strategies

A collaborative team from multiple states implemented a workshop in November 2009 for stakeholders interested in specialty cut flower production.  The project was supported by a grant from the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center.   The overall goal of the workshop was to help interested parties gain an understanding of the production and marketing issues associated with small-farm production of specialty cut flowers and to assist growers to better manage risks associated with this type of activity.  Assessment tools were used at the beginning and end of the workshop, and again 4 months later, to document impact of the workshop on the decision making process of attendees.  The workshop attracted an audience from 23 states.  A majority (77%) of the attendees were existing growers and 78% reported their operation was 5 acres or less.  Season extending technologies were used by 68% of the growers.  The primary (67%) marketing channel for these growers are farmers markets.  At the end of the workshop 97% of attendees indicated they will improve the way they manage risks in their operation as a result of attending the workshop.  A follow-up survey is documenting how many attendees implemented changes in risk management strategies four months after the workshop.