BANGOR – Maine farmers will have a unique opportunity on Oct. 27 to hear from consumers about their experiences and thoughts on buying local goods.

Greg Franklin, a marketing professional from New Hampshire with a background in agriculture, will facilitate a live consumer focus group at an all-day marketing workshop, especially for Maine farmers, at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor. Sponsored by Heart of Maine Resource Conservation & Development and the Maine Department of Agriculture, this event will focus on gaining a better understanding of what consumers want and helping farmers use word-of-mouth marketing techniques to spread the word about what they offer at their farms.

Virginia Miracle, an expert in word-of-mouth marketing from the South Carolina marketing firm Brains on Fire! will share practical marketing techniques and highlight Maine farmers who are successfully using word-of-mouth marketing strategies on their farms.

Steve Taylor, New Hampshire’s commissioner of agriculture for more than two decades, will provide insights about the trends and future of agriculture in New England.

The cost is $20, which includes lunch. To register to attend or for information, call Heart of Maine RC&D at 947-6622, ext. 5, or visit www.heartofmaine.org.