UPEI’s MBA program hosts public event about local food market February 7

Students in the University of Prince Edward Island's executive-style Master of Business Administration program will explore the topic of local food during a public event in the Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, McDougall Hall, on Saturday, February 7.

Starting at 9:30 a.m. a panel of experts will present a local food challenge to the MBA students, who will be asked to come up with a solutions, using the analytical and creative skills they have developed in their current course in marketing management. Audience members will then have the opportunity to share their perceptions about local food.

Members of the panel are Tim Carroll, associate professor at the UPEI School of Business; Phil Ferraro, Institute of Bioregional Studies; Jerry Gavin, P.E.I. Department of Agriculture; and Rob Paterson, The Renewal Consulting Group Inc.

Carroll says that he selected the local food theme for his marketing course and for the event because he feels it involves a marketing problem rather than a production issue.

Local food describes the emerging trend among consumers to purchase locally produced food. Although consumers show a preference for locally produced food, the present system of distributing and marketing food is not capable of satisfying consumers' desires for local food.

'The biggest challenge for local food is to market it in a way that satisfies consumers' preferences for price, quality, convenience and availability,' says Carroll. 'No business plans are in place to take local food beyond just being a ‘Saturday morning' novelty.'

Following the panel discussion, the MBA students will convene into groups to prepare their responses to the local food challenge. Those interested can hear their presentations, starting at 3:00 p.m. in the Alex MacKinnon Auditorium.

Launched in September 2008, the executive-style MBA provides Islanders with a unique opportunity to pursue their graduate studies while continuing to work. It employs an integrated approach, peer-to-peer learning and an emphasis on developing global perspectives to prepare graduates to act as leaders and innovators in an ever-changing business environment.

This event is an opportunity for the students to connect with the Island community on local issues, as well as a chance for the public to see McDougall Hall, UPEI's newest state-of-the-art teaching facility and home of the School of Business.

For more information, please call Grace McCourt at 566-6474 or e-mail at gmccourt@upei.ca. Light refreshments will be provided.