SDSU Extension will host a six-week virtual Annie's Project workshop series for specialty crop producers on November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and December 7, 2026, from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. CST each day.
This workshop is designed to strengthen the management skills, confidence, and decision making capacity of today’s fruit, flower, and vegetable growers. Specialty crop operations face unique challenges—from navigating limited markets to managing production risks including short seasons and volatile weather, high labor needs, and business planning for a wide range of crops. This program provides producers with the tools, knowledge, and support network needed to successfully manage risk and build long term resilience to improve their business.
Throughout the six weeks, participants explore the evolving specialty crop landscape and learn how to apply practical strategies to their own enterprises. Each session blends expert and farmer instructors with peer to peer learning, allowing producers to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from others who are working in similar environments. The program emphasizes real world application, helping participants strengthen both their business operations and their personal confidence as agricultural decision makers. Participants will dig deeper than a typical one-off workshop or field day and be able to make real changes to their vegetable, fruit, or flower business.
The curriculum is built around the five areas of agricultural risk management, with additional content tailored specifically to the unique needs of specialty crop farms:
- Business Structure & Legal Risk: Choosing the right business structure, understanding liability, taxes, contracts, and regulatory considerations.
- Marketing & Market Risk: Identifying markets, building customer relationships, pricing strategies, and adapting to shifting consumer demand.
- Production Risk: Managing crop-specific challenges, seasonality, weather impacts, rising input costs, and food safety.
- Financial Risk: Budgeting, cash flow management, recordkeeping, enterprise profit analysis, and understanding financial statements.
- Human Resource Risk: Hiring, training, retention, communication, conflict management, and building a positive workplace culture.
- USDA Programs & Insurance: Navigating federal programs, specialty crop insurance options, and resources available to support vegetables, fruit, and flower farms.
- Family & Business Communication: Strengthening communication within the household and farm team to support shared decision-making and long-term planning.
Each session features speakers with deep expertise in specialty crops, agricultural insurance and finance, farm business management, marketing, and risk management. Their insights help participants connect the dots between daily operations and long-term strategic planning.
This program is intended for specialty crop producers who have an established business that has been in production for at least one year. Because many specialty crop operations rely on shared decision-making, couples and business partners are encouraged to attend together. Only one registration is needed per operation; simply list the name of your partner on the registration form.
Live sessions are held via Zoom, allowing producers to participate from anywhere while still engaging in real-time discussion and learning. Before each class, there will be approximately one hour of online learning materials and resources that will also be available after the course is complete. To get the full benefit of the program, participants are asked to attend all six sessions live.
Registration
The registration fee is $50, which covers program materials, speaker costs, and access to all live sessions. Registration is required and can be completed using the blue register button above.
