Extension to host ‘After the Harvest’ conference for Arkansas growers, distributors in September
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
July 17, 2025
Fast Facts:
- After the Harvest conference scheduled Sept. 5-6 at Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock
- Space is limited: Register at formstack.com/forms/after_harvest
- Event designed for stakeholders in local food systems: farmers, market managers, advocates
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LITTLE ROCK — After the Harvest, a conference hosted by the Cooperative Extension Service, aims to bring together farmers, growers, food distributors and other stakeholders invested in the journey local food takes after it leaves the field.
The event will take place Sept. 5-6 at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Spots are limited, and early bird registration is available until Aug. 6 for $15 for the Friday session and $30 for the Saturday session. After Aug. 6, the price increases to $30 for the Friday session and $60 for the Saturday session. Register at uada.formstack.com/forms/after_harvest.
Amanda Philyaw Perez, extension associate professor of food systems and food safety specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said the conference is designed to be a “gathering of the people who are doing the real work to increase access to Arkansas-grown and -made foods.”
“This is not a traditional conference,” Perez said. “It’s a space for connection, collaboration and shared learning. Our goal is to support a more resilient local food system, rooted in community and shaped by the folks who grow, make and move food across the state.”
Farmers, growers and value-added producers — commercial or home-based manufacturers of food products that are not fresh, such as jarred or canned products — and farm stand operators are encouraged to attend. Farmers market managers, food retail operators, local food advocates and nonprofit organizations are also ideal audiences for the conference, Perez said.
“So many people in the state of Arkansas are doing incredible work, but they are doing it alone,” said Sarah Bakker, extension food systems and food safety program associate for the Division of Agriculture. “We hear it all the time: everyone is working in silos, and it is difficult to connect. After the Harvest is our answer to this problem. We’re not here to reinvent the wheel, we’re here to connect the wheels that are already turning.”
Sessions will cover a variety of topics, including post-harvest handling and food safety, retail models, business logistics and producer support strategies. On Friday, Sept. 5, the conference will feature a session on the farm stop model, led by Kathryn Barr, a local food systems outreach specialist for The Common Market.
Bakker said a farm stop is defined as “any business that is collecting local foods, whether that’s value-added products or fresh produce, from multiple producers and selling them under one roof.”
“By highlighting models like farm stops, we’re helping communities reimagine how food can move from the field to shelf in ways that keep local farmers and producers at the center of the conversation,” Bakker said.
Following the session, participants can attend the Argus Farm Stop School, a hands-on workshop led by Kathy Sample and Bill Brinkerhoff of Argus Farm Stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“We’re excited to bring in a national farm stop leader, Argus Farm Stop, to help connect our local successes with efforts happening across the country,” Perez said. “After years of working to support local food systems, it’s clear that for this model to grow, there has to be a reliable market. I think communities are finally finding that in the farm stop model: A retail farm store that fits into our daily lives.
“These stores are rooted in the community, open several days a week and they’re popping up in towns across the state,” Perez said. “This event is the first convening of those innovative market managers who are leading the way and redefining how local food gets from farm to table.”
On Saturday, Sept. 6, the main day of the conference will include breakout sessions and opportunities to connect with growers, market managers, funders, educators, and others working to strengthen Arkansas’ local food systems.
Fostering connection and community
“Our goal is to strengthen the connections between local food businesses, infrastructure and support systems,” Bakker said. “This event grew out of real needs we have been hearing from growers, market managers and food system advocates across the state. It is not just a conference: it is a gathering of people working together to build a better local food system, one delivery, one vendor and one relationship at a time.”
“We hope After the Harvest will serve as a catalyst for deeper collaboration across Arkansas’ local food systems, bringing together growers, processors, retailers and community leaders to share ideas, build relationships and take action,” Perez said. “By highlighting successful models and inviting national voices into the conversation, we're helping to bridge local innovation with broader food system movements.
“Our goal is to not only strengthen what's happening here in Arkansas but also contribute to a growing national dialogue about how communities can build more resilient, equitable and connected food systems,” Perez said.
To learn more about the event, visit the After the Harvest Conference page on the Cooperative Extension Service website, contact Bakker at sbakker@uada.edu or Perez at aperez@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact Amanda Perez at aperez@uada.edu as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061