Follow, Like, Subscribe, Watch

& Connect Today!

See What's Inside! 👀

Produce Safety Consortium in St Louis

We're Growing: Welcome Sarah Bakker!

2024 Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo

Food System Resources & Opportunities

Optimal viewing tips: 🤳 Turn sideways for mobile devices. 💻 Use webmail instead of desktop e-mail.

Meet Me in St. Louis!

Our Team Attends the 2023 Produce Safety Consortium

In early November, our Extension team along with partners from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture travelled to St. Louis for the 2023 National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Produce Safety Consortium, an annual gathering of the country's regulators, researchers, and educators working in the space of produce safety.

For two full days, we learned about new advances in how to keep our food supply safe from colleagues in other states, peer institutions, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We plan to share this valuable knowledge with Arkansas growers in the coming months.

A highlight of the consortium is the poster session + evening social at which we presented our very successful produce safety programming from the 2023 Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo.

We look forward to next year!

Local, Regional & Safe Foods Team Grows!

Welcome Sarah Bakker 🎉

Our team is growing! Please welcome Sarah Bakker, food systems & food safety program associate!

Sarah Bakker has a bachelor’s in sustainable food systems and has been working on both diversified produce and small ruminant dairy operations for over 9 years. Most recently, she served as the garden manager at Heifer Ranch managing the 3-acre certified organic market garden and educating apprentices in the basics of small-scale produce operations. Sarah has a deep passion for both local foods and agriculture and is excited to get started in her new role with the Local, Regional, and Safe Foods team.

Send her a note at sbakker@uada.edu.

Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo is Back!

Early Bird Registration Ends December 10th

The much-anticipated Arkansas Grown Conference & Expo returns for a second year January 25-27, 2024 at the Hot Springs Convention Center! Last year saw over 450 in attendance - don' miss out!

This annual gathering is open to all parties interested in Arkansas agriculture, the state’s largest industry, and focuses on the farmers and producers who grow for our local food system.The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is collaborating with eight Arkansas associations to host general sessions and workshops on many topics that are important to our farmers in the local food system. The Hot Springs Convention Center Exhibit Hall offers a large space for sponsors and vendors to display products and network with new and existing customers.

REGISTER BY DECEMBER 10, 2023

to secure your Early Bird registration fee!

Food System Resources & Opportunities

CLICK THE IMAGE TO ACCESS THE RESOURCE

MAP/WEBPAGE 🗺️🌐

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (Arkansas)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), a valuable tool for gardeners and researchers. The last update was in 2012. The PHZM is the standard that gardeners and growers use to determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The new map - jointly developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Oregon State University's (OSU) PRISM Climate Group - is more accurate and contains greater detail than prior versions.

The PHZM map for Arkansas is shown. To view an interactive map of the US, click here.

REPORT 📄

Addressing Food Access In Arkansas: A Report and Recommendations

The Arkansas Governor’s Food Desert Working Group was organized in the Spring of 2022 to provide recommendations for actionable steps the State of Arkansas could take to eliminate food deserts. The Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance asked Governor Hutchinson to convene a diverse group of Arkansans charged with defining and discussing the issue and proposing policy and economic development recommendations. A report of this group's findings was published at the conclusion of their work.

GRANTS/FUNDING 💲

Local Food Purchase Assistance & Local Foods for School Program

The USDA Agriculture Marketing Service established the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Cooperative Agreement Program. The purpose of this grant program is to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resiliency to support local, regional, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as well as increasing local food consumption. AR LFPA funds for the purchase of domestic local foods and distribution will help build and expand economic opportunity for local and socially disadvantaged producers.

Eligible grant applicants must demonstrate that they are able to fulfill at least one of the following functions: produce, purchase, aggregate, store, transport, and/or distribute Arkansas locally grown, raised, or caught agricultural products to be delivered to underserved communities in the state. No funds can be spent on agricultural production activities.

For more information, including deadline to apply, contact James Ponzini with the Arkansas Department of Education at james.ponzini@ade.arkansas.gov.