Heartland Regional Food Business Coalition

High Tunnel Production Webinar Series: MU Extension’s Guide to Growing Specialty Crops in Tunnels for High Yields & Low Risks
2026-01-20 18:30 - 2026-04-14 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Location: virtual on Zoom
Time: Tuesdays January 20th-April 14th, 6:30-8:00pm
Join University of Missouri Extension and partner institutions for a practical 12-session webinar series on growing specialty crops in high, low, and caterpillar tunnels. Learn directly from Extension specialists and researchers as they cover tunnel construction, irrigation and fertility management, pest and disease control, specialty crop production, and economics. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your tunnel production year-round, this series offers trusted, research-based guidance to help your farm thrive.
Live attendance is encouraged, but all sessions will also be recorded.
Series will be followed by in-person field days offered across the state in late spring and early summer. Locations and dates TBD.
Cost: $96-140
This course is offered with a tiered pricing model to provide greater access for all community members. To determine your course enrollment fee please review the Sliding Scale Table (https://i.emlfiles4.com/cmpdoc/9/4/0/0/9/1/files/27861_sliding-scale-fee-2026-tunnel-to-table-1.pdf) select a promo code based off of your annual household income. Use this promo code at the end of Registration to reduce your course fee.

We also offer a limited number of scholarships for those who are experiencing underemployment or similar financial challenges. If you are interested in a scholarship, please fill out the Scholarship Interest Form. Scholarships are generously offered by the Missouri SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) Program.

Food is Medicine Webinar
2026-01-21 12:00 - 14:00
The United States Department of Agriculture and Small Business Administration is collaborating with Cox Consulting to bring to you a webinar to discuss creative market expansion based on successful models across the southeast. The webinar will focus on healthcare systems and building resilient food systems for local economic development, and regional rural prosperity.
The “Food is Medicine”, theme is broadly recognized in its importance and the impact that dietary and food patterns play in combatting many health challenges, preventing diseases, and treating medical conditions. We will elaborate on partnerships and opportunities between the healthcare and agricultural industries.
The webinar is scheduled on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET. (Noon to 2pm CST). Please click HERE to register.

Homegrown Prosperity Educational Sessions
2026-04-20 12:00 - 13:00
Homegrown Prosperity is a new initiative focused on expanding cooperative development across rural Kansas and Missouri. Through cooperative education, readiness assessments, and targeted technical assistance, the program will support community groups interested in exploring cooperative solutions that strengthen local economies and expand community ownership.
Virtual Learning Session
April 20, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (CST)
Join us online for an introduction to the cooperative business model, examples of successful rural cooperatives, and an overview of how Homegrown Prosperity can support communities interested in cooperative development.
Registration: Meeting Registration – Zoom

Pathways to Market: Business Development & Buyer Readiness
2026-04-22 12:00 - 14:00
The United Stated Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Center, and Apex Accelerator have partnered to equip agricultural enterprises and other small businesses with the tools, resources, and knowledge required to navigate the product to market journey. Participants will obtain best practices an enhance their understanding of how to convert innovative ideas to buyer ready products.
Join us for this virtual webinar to hear from business and economic development experts about how to prepare your enterprises and get your products to Federal markets using artificial intelligence and other related/necessary skills.
The webinar has been scheduled for April 22, 2026, from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST. Please share with other enterprises and businesses.
To register, please click HERE.

Wed, Apr 22

12:00 PM – 2:00 PM CDT

Online event

Applied Food Safety Microbiology Training April 28-29, 2026 (Columbia, MO)
2026-04-28 08:30 - 2026-04-29 17:00 | University of Missouri, Eckles Hall, 1400 Rollins Street, Columbia, Missouri, 65211
If you are interested in building both foundational understanding and practical skills in microbial control during food processing, this training is an excellent opportunity. Effective microbial control programs are essential for managing spoilage organisms as well as toxigenic and pathogenic microorganisms across a wide range of raw and finished food products. Increasingly, regulatory agencies such as the FDA and USDA, along with third-party auditors and customer requirements, expect food processors to implement comprehensive and science-based microbial control systems that proactively address food safety risks.
This course is designed to help food processors stay current with emerging microbiological food safety concerns and equip them with the knowledge needed to design, implement, and maintain effective control programs. Participants will gain practical insights into environmental monitoring, sanitation practices, and preventive control strategies that support safe food production.
This free training, sponsored by the USDA through the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), is especially beneficial for small and medium-scale food processors.
Target audience: small and medium-scale food processors, quality assurance and quality control personnel, line supervisors, operators, sanitation supervisors, quality managers, farmers doing businesses in farmer’s market, canning professionals, managers and food science undergraduate & graduate students.
Duration: 1.5 days
Venue: Eckles Hall, 1406, E Rollins St., Columbia, MO.
Time: April 28 (8:30 am to 5:00 pm), and April 29 (8:30 am to 12:30 pm)
Registration cost: Free
Courtesy: USDA through Missouri Department of Agriculture
Sign Up Here: https://extension.missouri.edu/events/applied-food-safety-microbiology-training-april-28-29-2026-columbia-mo
For more information, contact: Kantha Channaiah (lchannaiah@missouri.edu) 573-882-2673

Quarterly Virtual Local Food Town Hall
2026-04-29 11:00 - 12:00
Quarterly Virtual Local Food Town Hall is back! This quarter’s Town Hall will be on Wednesday, April 29th from 11 a.m. to noon. Joining us for lightning presentations!

Thomas Smith from The KC Food Hub and Tom Buller from Kansas Rural Center will discuss the Kansas Local Food Hub Constellation. With the hard-fought lessons learned over The Kansas City Food Hub’s 10-year history, learn how they plan to elevate and empower community voices across Kansas to build food hubs that meet their farmer and eater community needs.

Eric Sannerud from GrownBy will share how Kansas farmers can offer SNAP online to sell their produce. He will discuss how farmers are able to sell their produce online to SNAP customers and how to use the same program while at market.

Don’t miss out! If you are not registered yet for this year, sign up below.
Quarterly Virtual Town Halls | K-State | Kansas State University

National Rural Grocery Summit - Fargo, ND
2026-05-05 08:00 - 2026-05-07 17:00 | Holiday Inn – Fargo, ND, 3803 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND, 58103
The Rural Grocery Initiative is excited to co-host the 2026 Summit with two organizations that have a long history of supporting rural grocers in their states: the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC).
The National Rural Grocery Summit, hosted every other year, is the premier networking and resource-sharing venue for independent grocers and rural food access stakeholders. It brings together grocery store owners and managers, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food access stakeholders, policy makers, and funders to connect and share lessons learned. The event is focused on sustaining locally-owned rural grocery stores and improving access to healthy food in rural communities.

Key Information:
May 5-7, 2026 – Fargo, ND

The 2026 National Rural Grocery Summit will be held at the Holiday Inn – Fargo in Fargo, ND.
Registration is now open!
Explore the conference agenda.
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Food Business Start-Up Summit - Hays, Kansas
2026-06-09 08:00 - 2026-06-10 17:00
The Food Business Start-Up Summit is a hands-on, two-day working retreat designed to help Kansas food and farm entrepreneurs make real progress on their businesses. Rather than sitting through presentations, participants work alongside trusted advisors and peers to tackle challenges like licensing, financing, production, distribution, and growth. Bring your key partners (teams of up to three) and step away from daily operations to gain clarity, build confidence, and leave with a practical action plan tailored to your business.
In 2026, the K-State Extension Community Food Systems team will host two Summits: June 9–10 in Hays and August 4–5 in Lawrence. Each event welcomes up to 25 businesses and offers expert guidance, peer learning, and dedicated time to focus. There is no cost to apply; selected teams register for $300. Join us to connect, problem-solve, and move your business forward.
Application | K-State | Kansas State University

Food Business Start-Up Summit - Lawrence, Kansas
2026-08-04 08:00 - 2026-08-05 17:00
The Food Business Start-Up Summit is a hands-on, two-day working retreat designed to help Kansas food and farm entrepreneurs make real progress on their businesses. Rather than sitting through presentations, participants work alongside trusted advisors and peers to tackle challenges like licensing, financing, production, distribution, and growth. Bring your key partners (teams of up to three) and step away from daily operations to gain clarity, build confidence, and leave with a practical action plan tailored to your business.
In 2026, the K-State Extension Community Food Systems team will host two Summits: June 9–10 in Hays and August 4–5 in Lawrence. Each event welcomes up to 25 businesses and offers expert guidance, peer learning, and dedicated time to focus. There is no cost to apply; selected teams register for $300. Join us to connect, problem-solve, and move your business forward.
Application | K-State | Kansas State University
For venue/location information, please visit the website: Food Business Start-Up Summit | K-State | Kansas State University

Urban Food Systems Symposium - Kansas City, MO
2026-09-14 - 2026-09-17 | Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, 4445 Main Street, Kansas City, MO, 64111, United States
UFSS brings together a national and international audience of academic, non-profit, private-sector, government and research-oriented professionals around this years’ theme of ‘Cultivating Communities, Cities, and Food Systems.’ UFSS fosters collaboration and emphasizes the role of urban food systems in shaping sustainable solutions for our cities and communities.
Over the past decade, UFSS has grown from 50 to 200+ attendees. Learn more about our 2026 location and book your stay.
4445 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111, United States
Registration
Registration Deadlines
Early price April 1 – May 31, 11:59 p.m. CST
*Use code EARLY_UFSS26 for Early Bird pricing!
Regular price June 1 – August 15 11:59 p.m. CST
Late Registration August 16 – September 10 11:59 p.m. CST
Registration closes September 10, 11:59 p.m. CST
