Michael Shuman keynote speaker at Annual Fla. Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Entrepreneur Michael H. Shuman will be the keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference Saturday, July 28.

Shuman is being sponsored by the Florida Food Policy Council (FFPC), a nonprofit organization encouraging the development and expansion of the capacity of local food systems to meet food security needs in communities across Florida.

Shuman is an economist, attorney, author, and Director of Research and Marketing for Cutting Edge Capital. He has authored, co-authored, or edited eight books. His most recent book, just published by Chelsea Green, is Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Move Your Money from Wall Street to Main Street and Achieve Real Prosperity.

His most famous book, The Small Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition (Berrett-Koehler, 2006), received a bronze prize from the Independent Publishers Association for best business book of 2006.

Shuman helped co-found BALLE, which represents 22,000 local businesses in North America in 80 communities, and is now a Fellow there.

At Cutting Edge Capital, a consulting firm that helps communities and businesses solve finance challenges, he manages its economic development initiatives.

“Mr. Shuman’s work will increase the economic impact that Florida small farmers have on this state through a study that will be conducted by FFPC and Shuman,” said Trisha Strawn, Florida Food Policy Council Chair and Vice President of Growing Synergy based in St. Cloud.

The Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference, a three-day event hosted by the University of Florida and Florida A & M University, includes 30 educational sessions, farm tours, a large trade show and Florida’s Finest Signature Luncheon.

Through concurrent educational sessions led by industry experts and noted researchers, the annual Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference provides opportunities for attendees to learn about groundbreaking research and access educational support about topics such as operating sustainable and profitable enterprises, integrating cost-effective methods to meet state regulations, and applying the latest research to real-world problems. Attendees also participate in workshops, hands-on demonstrations and organized networking activities, enabling them to share their knowledge while interacting with peers from all over the state.

To register for the Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference visit the website http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/smallfarms