Local Foods Event Comes to Carrington

By Scout Nelson

North Dakota’s 21st Annual Local Foods Conference will bring together farmers, ranchers, food businesses, educators, nonprofits, and community leaders to strengthen the state’s local food network.

The event takes place Thursday, October 16 through Saturday, October 18 at the Chieftain Conference Center, 60 4th Avenue South in Carrington.

The three day conference follows the theme “Building Resilience in a Vibrant Ecosystem” and is sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the gathering offers in depth sessions on marketing for small businesses, food safety, season extension, Farm to School programs, soil health, and community food access, along with many networking opportunities.

Activities begin Thursday evening with a workshop and social hosted by FARRMS. A new highlight this year is the Local Foods Conference Farmers Market, open to the public on Friday, October 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Chieftain Conference Center parking lot.

Several engaging sessions continue through Friday and Saturday, giving participants a chance to share ideas and learn new strategies to grow local food efforts.

Registration for the conference and farmers market is available at the North Dakota Department of Agriculture website. The North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association will reimburse the conference fee for the first 25 first time North Dakota attendees.

For more details, contact Jenna Nieters, NDDA local foods marketing specialist, at 701-328-2659 or jnieters@nd.gov, or Keith Knudson, NDFMGA executive director, at ndfmga@outlook.com.

This annual event highlights how farmers, educators, and community leaders can work together to strengthen local food systems and support sustainable agriculture across the state.

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