FARMINGTON – An Eat Smart Eat Local winter workshop series for farmers will be held during April.

“Essentials of Business Planning for Small Farms” will be the topic from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, April 7, at the Western Mountains Alliance Conference Area, Church Street Commons.

Participants will learn from area farmers and business planning professionals how to develop a business plan for value-added farm products and how to access resources for the success of a small farm business. Visit www.westernmountainsalliance.org for a full description.

Presenters will be Amy LeBlanc, Whitehill Farm, Kathy Trodden, Second Chance Farm, and Longfellows Creamery LLC, Tessa Burpee, Heart of Maine Resource Conservation and Development, Keri Sands, Farms for the Future of CEI, and Rose Creps, Small Business Development Centers.

Cost to register is $18 and deadline is Thursday, April 24. Call 778-3885 or e-mail [email protected].

The second session, “Getting Started in Niche Marketing and Value Added Products,” will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan.

Participants will learn from area farmers and marketing professionals how to develop and market new value added farm products and how to tap into agri-tourism opportunities. Visit www.westernmountainsalliance.org for a full description.

Presenters will be Sarah Smith, Grassland Farm, Judy Dimock, North Start Orchards, Kathy Hopkins, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Tessa Burpee, Heart of Maine Resources Conservation and Development, Deanne Herman, Maine Department of Agriculture, and Mark Edwards, UMaine Cooperative Extension.

Registration is $35 and deadline is Monday, April 28. Call 778-3885 or e-mail [email protected].

The workshops are being sponsored by Western Mountains Alliance with support from the Farm Credit NE AgEnhancement Program.