Western Farmer-Stockman Logo

The 5-month Women’s Farm2Food Accelerator program will bring 10 agribusiness ventures to the next level.

November 11, 2021

2 Min Read
WFP-ARS-food-preparer.jpg
USDA ARS

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, the state Department of Agriculture (NDA) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation recently announced the selection of 10 Nevada women for the Farm2Food Accelerator program, kicking off Nov. 3.

This workforce development program is designed to help women farmers and entrepreneurs with food or beverage products, or product ideas, expand into new markets.  Officials say it's a new and exciting program for Nevada agriculture and a way to provide women entrepreneurs with the tools and training they need to take their businesses to the next level.   

“The women selected come from all over the state, producing a variety of specialty crops used to make products such as jams, dried culinary herbs, mushroom jerky, hot sauce and wine,” said NDA Director Jennifer Ott. “This program will support these women running small businesses to grow their operations, develop new business strategies and increase their chance of success.”

Selected participants will join women from Oregon and Washington for a 15-week online program at no cost, thanks to funds made available through the Nevada Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The program will provide women with the opportunity to:

  • Gain knowledge and tools related to food safety, product development, marketing and more 

  • Connect with a community of women farmers, food entrepreneurs and food experts to exchange ideas and meet peers in other states 

  • Launch a new value-added food or beverage product or enhance an existing product   

“Workforce development opportunities are important for every industry and sector, but especially for those that are underrepresented, like women in farming,” said Governor Steve Sisolak. “We are excited see the impact of this program on our food and beverage industries and hope to bring a larger program like this to Nevada.” 

Supporting women farmers

The Farm2Food Accelerator program focuses on supporting women farmers who grow specialty crops for a value-added food or beverage product or those who source specialty crop ingredients in the products they make. The USDA definition of specialty crops includes fruits, vegetables, honey, tree nuts, dried fruits, culinary herbs and spices, and a value-added product is defined as a product that has changed in its physical state or form, such as milling wheat for flour or making strawberries into jam. 

Applicants accepted into 2022 program include:

  • Cortney Bloomer, Rural Health & Nutrition Initiative, Dayton, Nev.

  • Stacy Fisk, Fisk Farm Herbs, Fallon, Nev.

  • Teri & Megan Harasha, Jazi’s Greens, Carson City, Nev.

  • Lyndsey T. Langsdale, Reno Food Systems, Reno, Nev.

  • Crystal Leon, The Radish Hotel, Sparks, Nev.

  • Leslie Lotspeich, Lotspeich Family Farm, Deeth, Nev.

  • Eva Sara Luna, Desert Moon Farms, LLC, N. Las Vegas, Nev.

  • Sara Thomas, NO BS Farm, Fernley, Nev.

  • Evelynn Thompson, Zoot Poultry Company, Spring Creek, Nev.

  • Betsy L. Whipple, River Ranch Vineyard, Hiko, Nev.   

Visit f2faccelerator.org/nv-program to learn more about the program or to watch for information on future programs.

Source: Nevada Department of Agriculture, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like