Assessing Profitable Agritourism
Online Webinar
Facilitators/Instructors: CADE Staff & Myron Thurston, CCE Oneida
Pricing and developing COGS (Costs of Goods Sold) feels like a simple process: Dollars spent that go into the product, and profits made from selling the product - but how are your COGS impacting your decision making? More often than not, businesses are not accounting for their costs properly – starting with the people (labor)!
Guest presenter, Myron Thurston, will lead participants through a break-even analysis framework to learn how to assess all the costs associated with people-centered sales like hosting agritourism events, attending fairs and events, and farmers markets. Then, we'll hear from farmer Madalyn Warren of East Branch Farms and Kimchi Harvest about her wealth of experience attending downstate farmers markets, hosting on-farm events, and attending fairs and festivals.
Madalyn Warren, founder of East Branch Farms and Kimchi Harvest, uses organic and biodynamic farming practices to grow vegetables, herbs and medicinal plants in Roxbury NY. As fundamental part of Korean food, culture and heritage, she has been fermenting kimchee with her family since her first job peeling garlic as a child. Since moving to Roxbury to farm in 2003, Madalyn has been making what she refers to as "farmstead kimchee" in large batches, sharing her love of the fermented Korean staple with friends and family. Today, they attend markets upstate and downstate, serve occasional incredible Korean dinners on-farm, and make appearances at festivals and other community events with their veggies, herbs, and kimchi.
Myron Thurston is the Food Supply Chain Marketing Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. The grant that funds his position is an Assembly Grant that was secured by Hon. Marianne Buttenschon, District 119 and Hon. Catalina Cruz, District 39. The goal of the grant is to connect farmers, distributors, and processors in Upstate New York with distributors, food banks, and individual customers in New York City.
Prior to his work with CCE Oneida County, he was the Agricultural Economic Development Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County. Myron also teaches courses in access to capital and business planning for the Cornell Small Farms Program and is an adjunct professor of microeconomics at Mohawk Valley Community College. He also reviews and scores grants for the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Myron is an avid endurance athlete and can be found running marathons and participating in triathlons during the competition season. Myron lives in Sherrill, NY with his wife, son, daughter, and two fur kids.
