SproUTing Growers: A Train-the-Trainer Program for Extension Professionals Working with Beginning Growers of Specialty Crops

In Tennessee and across the country, there is a growing demand for local produce and direct marketing is on the rise through farm markets, farmers markets and community supported agriculture (CSA). However, many of these markets have a higher demand than supply of produce. This demand is due to consumers wanting to reconnect with the land and get to know the farmers who are producing their food and the production practices that they use. While the demand is on the rise, the age of our farmers is also increasing, with the average age of 55-years old for a farmer in the U.S. As these farmers age and retire, farm land is lost to development and other enterprises. In order to preserve the farmland and meet the supply for local production, the older generation of farmers needs to be replaced with a new generation. To stimulate interest in farming and provide those interested with the tools they need to succeed, a comprehensive program titled ‘SproUTing Growers’ was developed for beginning growers. The objective of this project was to develop modules for a 10-part workshop series to provide potential growers with the business planning and management, agricultural production, food safety and marketing tools that they need to properly plan and carryout a farming venture. To make the program more accessible and comprehensive, a train-the-trainer format was adopted, where the Extension agents are given the modules to deliver to clientele in their area for a nominal fee. This innovative program is a collaboration of a multi-disciplinary team at the University of Tennessee composed of the Departments of Plant Sciences, Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Food Science & Technology and the Center for Profitable Agriculture.