Agriculture Industry of Southwest Florida Convenes at FGCU for Forum to Address Unfair Advantages, Marketing Strategies
12/5/2002

FORT MYERS, FL - Stakeholders in the agricultural industry of Southwest Florida are invited to a half-day discussion to advocate ideas that address the unfair advantages foreign produce has in the United States, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 17 in the Whitaker Hall Sprint Room at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Attendance at the forum, which will explore how to educate consumers about the value of U.S.-grown produce as a healthier alternative that is also environmentally friendly and socially responsible, is expected to include growers, farm workers, retailers, consumer groups, researchers, community leaders, government officials and representatives. Professional facilitators from the FGCU Conflict Resolution Institute will facilitate the event.

“The Ag Forum will invite experts in marketing strategies for the industry with the goal of learning from their experience, brainstorming marketing alternatives, including but not restricted to marketing campaigns, such as fair food labeling. The group will study the pro’s and cons of each alternative and create a taskforce to examine possible implementation of new initiatives,” CRI director Camilo Azcarate said.

Panelists include director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University Frederick L. Kirschenmann, American Restaurant Association representative David Maloni and FGCU Alico Chair in the College of Business Stuart Van Auken.

In partnership with the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium, the CRI () provides consensus-building and conflict resolution services to organizations and institutions in Southwest Florida via facilitation, mediation and other services to meet the growing demand for better and more durable solutions to public problems. CRI is located in the Center for Leadership and Innovation, an extension of the FGCU College of Business and is an integral element to FGCU’s outreach to surrounding communities.

The cost of the forum is $20 and after Jan. 10, $30. The fee includes lunch. Space is limited.

For more information, contact Azcarate at (941) 590-7318 or .

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