MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – As the craft beverage industry continues to grow in Tennessee, University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, along with craft beverage industry associations and guilds, invites farmers, brewers, distillers, winemakers and industry partners to attend the third annual Tennessee Farm and Ferment meeting on Monday, January 8, 2024.

This meeting will be held in Murfreesboro and is free and open to anyone interested in the craft beverage industry in Tennessee, including farmers growing crop inputs or using spent grain byproducts for feed and individuals in the wine, beer or distilled spirits industry.

“The farm-to-table movement has moved beyond the plate to include what’s in your glass, and beverage producers are teaming up with farmers to create unique offerings using inputs grown right here in Tennessee,” says Rachel Painter, UT Extension value-added agriculture marketing specialist with the Center for Profitable Agriculture. “We hope more farmers will join us to form connections with the industry, specifically farmers producing hops, corn and grains such as barley and rye, as well as fruits such as grapes, blueberries, strawberries, elderberries, peaches, apples and more. Some beverage producers are also interested in local herbs, vegetables and honey.”

The Center for Profitable Agriculture provides educational programming and technical assistance for Tennessee farmers interested in value-added enterprises to improve farm income, including farmers interested in exploring marketing to the craft beverage industry. Learn more about its programs at cpa.tennessee.edu.

The meeting will be held at the Rutherford County Extension Office, located at 315 John R. Rice Blvd., Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It begins with coffee, networking and a tradeshow at 10 a.m., sponsored by Tennessee Corn, followed by various sessions. Lunch will be provided. Sessions will conclude by 2 p.m. If interested in attending, please register online at tiny.utk.edu/farmandferment.

More information about the event can be found online at farmandferment.org. For more information, contact Rachel Painter at rpainter@utk.edu.