CALENDAR OF CONFERENCES - 2025
JAN 2025
Future Harvest Annual Conference
"Every winter, more than 500 farmers, educators, agriculture service providers, and foodpreneurs gather for Future Harvest’s annual conference — an extra special three days of workshops, lectures, peer-to-peer experiences, delicious farm fresh meals, all-star lineup of speakers, and lots of learning and networking!"
Dates: Jan 17-18, 2025
Location: Silver Spring, MD
NAFSN leader Daniela Ochoa Gonzalaz will attend. Reach out to meet up!
EcoFarm Conference
"The EcoFarm Conference is one of the largest and longest-running gatherings of sustainable and organic farmers, ranchers, and food system advocates in the U.S. Held annually in California, it offers a dynamic space for learning, networking, and collaboration through workshops, keynote speakers, farm tours, and hands-on demonstrations. With a focus on regenerative agriculture, ecological stewardship, and food justice, EcoFarm fosters community and innovation in the movement toward a more sustainable and just food system."
Dates: Jan 22-25, 2025
Location: Pacific Grove, CA
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 8 will receive a conference packet with handouts and swag through the mail BEFORE the online sessions. Those who register after January 8 may receive the packet before or AFTER the online sessions. Online sessions are held over Zoom."
Dates:
Virtual Jan 23–24, 2025
In-person: Jan 31 – Feb 1, 2025
Location: Madison, WI
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
NAFSN Co-Director Kim Hines will attend. Reach out to meet up!
Sustainable Foods Summit
"The North American edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit will be hosted in San Francisco on 28-29th January 2026. Other editions in this international series will take place in Europe (26-27 June, Amsterdam), the Asia-Pacific (2-3 Sep, Singapore), and Latin America (São Paulo). Each edition brings together some of the leading organizations involved in sustainability and eco-labels in the food industry. Please contact us for more details.
Dates:
Location: San Francisco, CA
From Food to Flowers: Everything Local Conference 2025
"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
FEB 2025
Georgia Organics SOWTH Regional Conference
"Join us for the inaugural SOWTH: A Regional Small Farms, Big Community Conference, a three-day gathering of over 1,000 farmers and leaders committed to sowing a strong sustainable agricultural movement across the South."
Dates: Feb 4-6, 2025
Location: Atlanta, GA
NAFSN leaders Nikki Seibert and Kim Hines will attend. Reach out to meet up!
Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference (formerly MOSES)
"The Marbleseed Conference offers knowledge for all experiences from organic and sustainable farmers, homesteaders, food policy advocates and more. Join us for a lineup of inspirational and educational content and workshops tailored to organic and regenerative farming. Choose from dozens of transformative, skill-building workshops and roundtables covering business management, soil health, and production are crafted to advance resilient organic farms and regenerative food systems."
Dates: Feb 20-22, 2025
Location: La Crosse, WI
California Small Farm Conference
"Welcome to the 37th annual California Small Farm Conference, a week-long event featuring over 40 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. This year’s theme, "Rooted in Place", honors the vital relationship between farmers, communities and the land they steward."
Dates: Feb 23-28, 2025
Location: Davis, CA
MAR 2025
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: Mar 3-4, 2025
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
NAFSN leaders Katie Barr and Debbie Tropp will attend. Reach out to meet up!
20th Annual Chicago Food Justice Summit
"For 20 years, the Annual Food Justice Summits have been shared ground for attendees to exchange meaningful knowledge, build deep relationships, and make powerful conversations on how to envision our food future together. Our Summits have highlighted ways to ground policy in community action and engage participants in reimagining Chicago’s foodscape. We invite you to join us to celebrate this milestone anniversary with 3 days of sessions, workshops, and opportunities to celebrate the deep roots of this movement and catalyze new growth for the future!
Dates: Mar 12-14, 2025
Location: Chicago, IL
Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems Summit
"The Regenerative Agriculture Summit North America is your opportunity to help shape a sustainable future for our industry and our planet. Through hands-on discussions, real-world case studies, and focused networking, you'll discover practical, impactful ways to champion regenerative practices. Let's come together, share insights, and build partnerships that make a difference."
Dates: Mar 25-27, 2025
Location: Chicago, IL
APR 2025
Northeast Farm to Institution Summit
"How do we practice belonging to create a just, equitable, and regenerative food system? As we gather in person at the 2025 Northeast Farm to Institution Summit—as we “turn toward one another,”—we reflect on who has been othered, and how we can use curiosity as an antidote against fear of the other. How do we create spaces, projects, and policies for everyone in our complex institutional food system? Join us to dig deeply into how we build community and a better regional food system through a practice of belonging."
Dates: Apr 7-9, 2025
Location: Portland, ME
Conference on Sustainable Food Procurement by Institutions
"This year’s event will bring together procurement specialists, dining directors, foodservice suppliers, academics, and students from across the higher education foodservice community. Whether you’re new to sustainable procurement or a seasoned expert, the conference will provide valuable education, hands-on engagement, and networking opportunities for attendees at all levels."
Dates: Apr 21-23, 2025
Location: University of Michigan
NAFSN leader Jodee Smith will attend. Reach out to meet up!
MAY 2025
JUN 2025
National Farm to School Network 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 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: Jun 2-5, 2025
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders 2025 Forum
"This year’s Forum envisions systems change rooted in Resilience, Justice, and Democracy. Programs will explore ways to achieve climate resilient and environmentally sustainable agriculture, justice and equitable outcomes for marginalized communities, and democratic control of food systems. Conference attendees will explore how diverse capital partners can empower frontline communities and strengthen movements for lasting systems change through dynamic sessions on culture and narrative, policy and advocacy, tools and infrastructure, and innovations in capital strategies."
Dates: Jun 9-12, 2025
Location: Santa Ana Pueblo, NM
ASFS-AFHVS Conference: Food Cultures and Social Justice
"Oregon State University's Food in Culture and Social Justice Program is pleased to host the 2025 joint annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS) and the Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society (AFHVS). The 2025 conference theme is "Food Cultures and Social Justice." Culture is how humans live in the world and we construct our many different kinds of cultures around making and eating food. AgriCULTURE is what allows human society to grow and spread, perhaps beyond a sustainable level."
Dates: Jun 18-21, 2025
Location: Corvallis, OR
Community Food Systems Conference: Resilience and Resistance: Cross-Pollinating Food Movements
"This conference serves as a dynamic platform for inspiration, collaboration, and action. Through 27 workshops led by organizations from across the country, compelling plenary talks from food system leaders, dedicated affinity groups, and action-planning sessions, attendees will gain valuable insights and practical strategies. Together, we will celebrate our successes, share innovative solutions, and build the momentum needed for meaningful change."
Dates: Jun 22-24, 2025
Location: Portland, OR
NAFSN leaders Debra Tropp, Erica Hall, Sara Prout & Nikki Seibert will be in attendance. Reach out to meet up!
JUL 2025
AUG 2025
Chestnut Growers of America and the Northern Nut Growers Association
"The Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and the Chestnut Growers of America (CGA) will hold their joint 2025 conference on August 3-6, 2025, in Lansing, Michigan. The conference features a packed agenda (scroll to the end to view the entire agenda), including lightning talks, technical sessions, and field trips covering all aspects of growing, processing, and marketing nuts and native fruits. Attendees will include a diverse mix of commercial growers, scientific researchers, and hobbyists, offering valuable opportunities to learn from experts and peers alike. This conference is the perfect place to plant ideas, crack open new insights, and grow connections. "
Dates: Aug 3-6, 2025
Location: Lansing, MI
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 4-5, 2025
Location: San Marcos, TX
SEP 2025
After the Harvest
"After the Harvest is a two-day gathering focused on the infrastructure, innovation, and relationships that keep local food systems moving - after food leaves the field. Join us to explore post-harvest handling, aggregation, distribution marketing, food safety, and business models that support small and mid-scale producers across Arkansas."
Dates: Sep 5-6, 2025
Location: Little Rock, AR
Farm Aid 2025
"Farm Aid’s annual festival is an all-day celebration of music and family farmers featuring a unique lineup of artists and genres, along with family farm-identified, local and organic foods as part of our HOMEGROWN Concessions®. It will take place Saturday, September 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota."
Dates: Sep 20, 2025
Location: Minneapolis, MN
OCT 2025
Regenerative Food Systems Investment Forum
Strategic investments across the agri-food value chain—from enabling technologies and regenerative land practices to supply chain infrastructure and emerging food brands—can help transform agriculture from a major problem into a powerful climate, environmental, health, and economic solution.
These investments not only build healthier and more resilient systems—they also deliver meaningful financial and impact returns.
At the 7th Annual RFSI Forum, we’re bringing together bold thinkers and capital allocators to explore how diverse forms of investment can drive this agricultural transition.
Dates: Oct 7-8, 2025
Location: Minneapolis, MN
NOV 2025
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!
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
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
UPCOMING IN 2026
JAN 2026
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!
FEB 2026
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
MAR 2026
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