UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension is hosting a virtual “Produce Auction Tour and Information Session for Buyers” webinar on October 5, 2021. Learn the nuts and bolts of buying at an auction, take a virtual tour, and see and hear an auctioneer in action. Chefs and restaurant buyers, institutional procurement professionals, farm to school buyers, retail procurement professionals, and other wholesale buyers will find this tour indispensable for learning about purchasing products through Pennsylvania’s produce auctions.
The webinar is a follow-up to three auction tours held on-site at the Leola, Oxford, and Kutztown Produce Auctions. “We wanted to take the success of the in-person tours and make the information accessible to those who want to learn about auctions from the convenience of their home, office, or kitchen,” shared Penn State Extension Educator Becky Clawson. The webinar will feature video from several auctions, highlighting the similarities and differences between auctions and auctioneer styles.
This event is being offered at no charge to participants. You may register online at https://extension.psu.edu/produce-auction-tour-and-information-session-for-buyers-webinar, or by calling 877-345-0691.
The produce auction is a staple of Pennsylvania’s produce marketplace and a win/win for farmers and buyers alike. Auctions give buyers a front-row seat to the beauty and abundance of locally-grown food and flowers throughout the season, from specialty items to staple seasonal crops like corn and tomatoes. The live-bidding format puts buyers in the driver’s seat, letting them see products and judge quality for themselves and determine the price and volume that suits their needs.
Additional information on the benefits of buying at produce auctions can be found at https://extension.psu.edu/4-benefits-of-buying-at-the-produce-auction and a recap of the in-person auction programs can be found at https://extension.psu.edu/penn-state-extension-leads-produce-auction-tours-for-buyers.
This work is supported by a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
–Becky Clawson, Penn State Extension