Video Resources

Using Business Plans to Empower Women Who Manage Horticultural Businesses in New Jersey and Turkey

Suzanne’s Project Pilot Program in Turkey

Robin Brumfield gave this presentation during the 2012 American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference in Miami.

The mission of two Rutgers led projects is to empower women who own horticultural businesses by giving them several sessions of business management training with a focus on developing a business plan throughout the training. While Annie’s Project originated in the mid-west where agronomic crops are the primary agricultural crops, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the U.S. with higher land and labor costs and more regulations than other states.With New Jersey farmers working in such a competitive environment, the project team decided that it would require every Annie’s Project New Jersey program participant to complete a business plan.

Inspired by the early success of Annie’s Project New Jersey, Rutgers University partnered with Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey to develop Suzanne’s Project in the Antalya province of Turkey. This project provides specialized training in business management, computer skills, and best management production practices to help Turkish women who operate small vegetable greenhouses and citrus orchards pursue opportunities to improve their farm businesses by creating a business plan throughout the course. Lessons learned from each program have been used to improve the other while adapting to local conditions.

Building Capacity Among Global Rural Women

Interactive Forum
Written and Narrated by Mick Minard

Professor Brumfield and Mick Minard, photographer and communications strategy consultant with an expertise in reporting on the impact of market-based strategies for social change, formed a partnership with Akdeniz University in Antalya, Turkey. This partnership adapted the Annie’s Project model to train Turkish women farmers on the basic skills and best practices necessary for them to sustain and scale profitable agricultural businesses.

Mick Minard is a photographer and communications designer who uses visual journalism to report on global investment opportunities that are socially, environmentally and financially attractive. As Impact Advisor and Strategic Communications Director for Suzanne’s Project in Turkey, she led an “Interactive Forum: Building Capacity Among Global Rural Women” held on March 1, 2012 which coincided with the 56th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. After her opening remarks, she gave a presentation on Suzanne’s Project.

Mick Minard: Building Capacity Among Global Rural Women