CALENDAR OF FOOD SYSTEMS CONFERENCES
NOV 2025
Growing Stronger Communities: Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrition Security Conference
"Growing Stronger Communities: Sustainable Agriculture for Nutrition Security is the first-of-its-kind convening of a nationwide network committed to helping communities achieve nutrition security through strengthened local, sustainable food systems. Hosted by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, it will bring together community members from all sectors to learn, share and collaborate to advance sustainable agriculture for community nutrition security."
Dates: Nov 5-7, 2025
Location: Raleigh, NC
Supplier Development Summit
"The Good Food Purchasing Initiative of Metro Chicago (GFPI Team) works to make sure the places feeding our communities buy and serve food that supports a fair and healthy food system for all. This means providing food that is healthy, local, fair, humane, and sustainable, with a focus on establishing racial equity and transparent supply chains.
GFPI partners are dedicated to helping put Good Food Purchasing policies into action, creating fairer supply chains, promoting good food practices at institutions, and building a strong, connected GFPI network."
Dates: Nov 6-7, 2025
Location: Chicago, IL
Emerging Farmers Conference
"The Emerging Farmers Conference was born out of a 1970s food activist movement. Rapid sector growth and the arrival of new immigrants to Minnesota ignited a collaborative effort by grassroots organizations, community advocates, and state partners to empower farmers with education and training. Over the past twenty years, the conference has grown into a multi-lingual, multicultural space for connection and hands-on learning for emerging farmers and farmers of color."
Dates: Nov 7-8, 2025
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Food as Medicine Global - 2025 Food Justice Conference
"The 2025 Food Justice Conference features inspiring leaders working at the intersections of food, health, community, social justice, and planetary wellbeing. The live two-day eco-friendly, online event offers attendees an opportunity to learn practical skills and gain a deeper understanding of what food as medicine means from a health equity perspective."
Dates: Nov 8-9, 2025
Locations: Virtual
NAFSN leader Wendy Bongjoh will be in attendance. Reach out to meet up!
2025 Local Seafood Summit
"The 2025 Local Seafood Summit is a practitioner-centric gathering for all those who are working to strengthen community-based seafood systems at the local, regional, and national scales. The summit aims to foster new connections, facilitate knowledge exchange, and create space for strategic dialogue about the tools, services, research, and policies needed to elevate the role of seafood in food systems and support resilient and vibrant coastal communities. Seafood harvesters, entrepreneurs, researchers, decision-makers, and community change-agents are welcome."
Dates: Nov 9-11, 2025
Location: Gulf Shore, AL
Shared Kitchen Summit
"A gathering place for the Network for Incubator and Commissary Kitchens (NICK) – the largest network of shared kitchens - and steered by The Food Corridor – the premier technology partner for the industry - this Summit is your golden ticket. It’s your chance to be at the leading edge of the shared kitchen wave, joining hands with a community that’s all about boosting efficiency, sparking growth, and innovating in our local food scenes."
Dates: Nov 10-12, 2025
Location: Cleveland, OH
This conference offers NAFSN members a 10% discount. Read more here.
National Agricultural Marketing Summit
"The AgSummit provides a unique networking opportunity for agricultural marketing practitioners to form new partnerships and learn business strategies to improve the performance of their farms and businesses."
Dates: Nov 12-14, 2025
Location: Indianapolis, IN
2025 National Field School
"The National FIELD School builds the future of farming-one trainer at a time.
With the average age of U.S. farmers now at 58 and 70% of farmland transitioning hands in the next 20 years, we urgently need skilled, next-generation farmers to sustain our food systems. The FIELD School meets this challenge head-on by training the trainers-equipping leaders of farmer incubators and apprenticeships with peer networks, hands-on learning, and cutting-edge tools."
Dates: Nov 12-14, 2025
Location: Austin, TX
3rd Annual Southwest Iowa Local Food Summit
"Join the Center for Rural Affairs and Golden Hills RC&D for the 3rd Annual Southwest Iowa Local Food Summit. The Summit will offer educational sessions highlighting regional speakers & small businesses owners.
Both breakfast and lunch are included with your registration. Exhibitor booths and farm stands will be present for attendees to gather resources and to shop local.
Date: Nov 14, 2025
Location: Logan, IA
CFSA’s Sustainable Agriculture Conference
"Now in its 40th year, CFSA’s Sustainable Agriculture Conference is a weekend of learning and community focused on advancing local, sustainable, and organic agriculture in the Carolinas. This year’s conference, to be held November 14th-16th in Columbia, South Carolina, will feature practical breakout sessions, networking and discussion groups, an expansive trade show, locally sourced meals, and on-farm intensive workshops at farms across the Midlands."
Dates: Nov 14-16, 2025
Location: Columbia, SC
DEC 2025
10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
"Hosted by the National Farm to School Network, this conference is the premier event for anyone passionate about bringing local food to institutional settings and driving equitable, positive change in the food system. Whether you’re a food service professional, farmer, educator, policymaker, entrepreneur, or student, this conference offers invaluable opportunities to network, learn, and share knowledge with others who are shaping the future of food access and sustainability.
Dates: Dec 1-4, 2025
Location: Albuquerque, NM
ACRES USA Aco-Ag Conference & Trade Show, 50th Annual
"The Annual Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show is the premier regenerative agriculture event for meeting with production-scale farmers who are dedicated to their operations with next-level organic and biological solutions."
Dates: Dec 1-4, 2025
Location: Madison, WI
Iowa Local Food Summit
"Join farmers, food system professionals, state agencies, and state legislators for a day of conversation and collaboration on the future of Iowa’s local food system. The summit will feature three panels, a locally-sourced lunch, and bring together voices from across the state to share ideas, build partnerships."
Dates: Dec 5, 2025
Location: Ames, IA
Northwest Arkansas Local Food Systems Conference
"Join us for a day of educational sessions, networking, and collaborative discussions designed to strengthen Northwest Arkansas's food system. For farmers, food entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in learning more about how to support our local food system!"
Dates: Dec 10-11, 2025
Location: Springdale, AR
JAN 2026
Minnesota Organic Conference
"Each year, we host this conference and trade show for farmers and others interested in organic agriculture.
Whether you're an experienced producer or new to the field, don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to connect with Minnesota’s thriving organic community!:
Dates: Jan 8-9, 2026
Location: St Paul, MN
EcoFarm Conference
"This year’s conference theme, “Seeds of Strength: Empowering Farmers for a Changing Climate,” reflects our commitment to equipping agricultural communities with the knowledge, resources, and connections they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. In these turbulent times, the practical wisdom and inspiration that EcoFarm provides are more important than ever. This year, active farmers and ranchers can apply for discounted registration."
Dates: Jan 21-24, 2026
Location: Pacific Grove, CA
Future Harvest Annual Conference
"Every winter, farmers, educators, agriculture service providers, and foodpreneurs gather for Future Harvest’s Annual Conference—two engaging days of workshops, lectures, farmer-to-farmer sessions, and regional food. Expect an all-star lineup of speakers, a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, and countless opportunities for learning and connection."
Dates: Jan 22-23, 2026
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Organic Vegetable Production Conference
"This producer-initiated conference is designed for advanced growers and attracts participants from throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Participants who register by January 6 will receive a conference packet with handouts and swag through the mail BEFORE the online sessions. Those who register after January 6 may receive the packet before or AFTER the online sessions. Online sessions are held over Zoom."
Dates:
Virtual: Jan 22–23, 2026
In-person: Jan 30 – 31, 2026
Location: Madison, WI
Sustainable Foods Summit
"The Sustainable Foods Summit will feature artificial intelligence, regenerative agriculture, sustainable ingredients, and marketing. For the first time, the summit will discuss the role of artificial intelligence in furthering sustainability in the food industry."
Dates:
Location: San Francisco, CA
From Food to Flowers: Everything Local Conference 2026
"The Everything Local Conference is the largest local food conference in Illinois. It brings together Illinois growers, producers, and food system players from across the state. The three-day conference features keynote speakers, 100+ educational sessions, a tradeshow with 65+ exhibitors, and conference meals crafted with Illinois-grown foods. Attendees have the opportunity to network and attend workshops on topics like specialty crop production, business development, funding and financing, and more."
Dates:
Location: Springfield, IL
NAFSN leader Kim Hines will attend. Reach out to meet up!
NOFA-NJ Winter Conference
"Our state’s food security relies upon local producers and effective, accessible food systems. In order to keep the Garden State well-nourished, NJ farms must find resilience to withstand a changing climate, global economics, and evolving agricultural policies. Join us in Asbury Park for a day (and evening) filled with education, connection, and lots of local food as we highlight efforts to support local farming and food systems throughout the Garden State."
Dates:
Location: Ashbury Park, NJ
FEB 2026
2026 Extension Women in Agriculture Network Conference
"Building Your Business: Starting Strong, Scaling Smart, Succeeding Strategically" brings together women in agriculture to share practical tools, proven strategies, and inspiring stories for launching and maintaining resilient farms and agribusiness ventures. Attendees will learn how to build solid foundations, apply data-driven scaling techniques, and create strategic plans that balance growth with sustainability. The conference fosters peer networks, mentorship opportunities, and actionable takeaways to help women turn ambitions into profitable, long-lasting enterprises."
Dates: Feb 2-3, 2026
Location: Waite Park, MN
PASA Sustainable Agriculture Conference
"Every year at our Sustainable Agriculture Conference, we showcase Farm Innovations—tools and techniques that help increase efficiency, reduce waste, steward the land, or just make it a little easier to run your farm. Often featuring unique re-uses of existing on-farm resources, these innovations can encompass anything from impressive DIY machinery to simple time-saving strategies."
Dates: Feb 4-6, 2026
Location: TBD
Care Farming Network National Conference
"Our theme this year is “Rooted and Rising: Growing the Future of Care Farming.” Join care farmers, educators, practitioners, and advocates from across the country for an inclusive, energizing event that deepens connections and cultivates a thriving national care farming community. Whether you’re just getting started or have years of experience, this conference offers opportunities to share knowledge, access resources, and be part of a movement rooted in healing, belonging, and purpose."
Dates: Feb 9-11, 2026
Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Farm Stop Conference
"Farm Stops are year-round, every-day markets that support small-scale farmers and strengthen local and regional food systems. They do so most often by operating on a consignment model, which gives producers a fair price, flexibility with their time and products, and provides more direct connections with consumers."
Dates: Feb 12-15, 2026
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Growing School Gardens Summit
"Join over 650 school garden leaders and educators from across the country at the 2026 Growing School Gardens Summit to elevate the national school garden movement so that we can create vibrant school gardens for ALL children in the United States. As the only national summit entirely focused on school gardening, this gathering will unite garden educators, nutrition educators, and organizations interested in collective action to promote sustainable school gardens."
Dates: Feb 19-21, 2026
Location: Phoenix, AZ
California Small Farm Conference
"Welcome to the 38th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 50 online workshops as well as a dozen in-person gatherings around the state.
Whether you’re a beginning farmer or a seasoned grower, a local food advocate or a farmers market manager, you’ll find something here for you."
Dates: Feb 22-27, 2026
Location: Throughout CA
New York Farm to School Summit
"This exciting statewide event will bring together educators, farmers, food service professionals, and community leaders to strengthen the connection between local farms and schools while promoting healthy, locally sourced food in school meals.
The summit will feature a dynamic lineup of activities, including field trips, lightning talks, panel discussions, and hands-on learning sessions designed to foster collaboration and innovation in the farm-to-school movement.
Dates: Feb 23-25, 2025
Location: Saratoga Springs, NY
Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference
"Join us for an inspirational lineup of educational content covering diverse production types, business management, soil health, and more to advance resilient organic farms and regenerative food systems. Whether you’re certified organic, using organic practices on your regenerative farm, or considering the switch to organic, you’ll find the people, partners, and skill-building opportunities to help your farm business thrive."
Dates: Feb 26-28, 2026
Location: La Crosse, WI
MAR 2026
Ag for All Conference: A Convergence of LGBTQIA+ Agriculturalists in Minnesota
"Ag for All is an educational conference focused on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ agriculturists, with an emphasis on relevant farm production and management topics. This year's theme, Pride in Every Field, celebrates how LGBTQIA+ people in agriculture have taken root, are growing stronger, and are shaping the future of food and farming across Minnesota and beyond. Ag for All is open to attendees and presenters of any identity."
Date: Mar 7, 2026
Location: Waite Park, MN
21st Annual Chicago Food Justice Summit
"The Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC) co-facilitates, advocates, and implements policies that advance food justice & sovereignty in Chicago and across the region. We work to ensure that all Chicagoans, especially black, indigenous, and residents of color, have the right to produce and access culturally appropriate, nutritious, sustainable and fair food."
Dates: Mar 11-13, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL
APR 2026
MAY 2026
National Rural Grocery Summit
"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."
Dates: May 5-7, 2026
Location: Fargo, ND
JUN 2026
American Community Gardening Association Conference
The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) is a grassroots non- profit advocacy organization focused on community gardening. Our mission is to build community by increasing and enhancing community gardening and greening across the United States and Canada.
Dates: June 4-7, 2026
Location: Little Rock, AR
ASFS-AFHVS Conference
"AFHVS activities include an annual three-day professional conference where members and others share recent thinking and scholarship on crucial social, ethical and technological issues in paper presentations, panel discussions, tours, and other activities organized around a salient food-related theme. The conference offers ample time for discussion, sharing, and socializing."
Dates: Jun 7-11, 2026
Location: Burlington, VT
Iowa Farm & Food Conference
"This bi-annual event, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition, and the Iowa Food System Coalition features site visits, workshops and keynote speakers, lots of local food, and connection with partners from
across the state and region."
Dates: June 11-12, 2026
Location: Waterloo, IA
Health Meets Food: The Culinary Medicine Conference
"There will be an online streaming option using a virtual conference platform that will allow for a conference experience including lectures, expert panels, culinary skills-building programming, and small group interactions with your colleagues."
Dates: June 11-14, 2026
Location: New Orleans, LA
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders 2026 Forum
"The 2026 SAFSF Forum will take place in Savannah, Georgia—a place where Afro-Indigenous stewardship, Gullah Geechee traditions, and Southern agrarian and culinary innovation intersect with today’s climate crisis, land loss, and rural economic disinvestment. The U.S. South is a fulcrum of American food and agriculture: a production powerhouse; a hub for farmworker and H-2A dynamics that shape national food supply; a climate frontline facing extreme heat, hurricanes, and flooding; and a logistics hub where Gulf and Atlantic ports—Savannah among them—move goods globally.
Dates: Jun 22-25, 2026
Location: Savannah, GA
JUL 2026
AUG 2026
Southern Family Farmers & Food Systems Conference
"Where growers, producers, local food advocates & small farm supporters gather for 2 days of high quality education, networking, and exploring useful resources."
Dates: Aug 3-4, 2026
Location: San Marcos, TX
SEP 2026
Urban Food Systems Symposium
"The theme of the symposium is "Cultivating Communities, Cities, and Food Systems."
This multi-day symposium brings together a national and international audience of academics, non-profit professionals, government officials, and research-oriented experts to share and gain knowledge on urban food systems."
Dates: Sep 14-17, 2026
Location: Kansas City, MO