Conferences
Integrating Food Safety and Market Readiness into Post-harvest Infrastructure Grants
Sarah Bakker
Summary
Specialty crop producers rely on post-harvest infrastructure to access markets, yet these investments can introduce operational, financial, and compliance risks if not implemented correctly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture–funded Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) grants provide producers and local food retailers nationwide with capital for cold-chain and aggregation projects, creating an opportunity to pair infrastructure investments with risk-management education.
In Arkansas, the Extension team integrated food safety and market readiness education into RFSI implementation through peer learning in working groups, site visits, individualized technical assistance, and a statewide After the Harvest conference with 87 participants representing producers, retailers, market managers, and educators. Educational efforts focused on regulatory compliance, facility management and design, food safety, and post-harvest best practices, while also facilitating connections among stakeholders operating within shared supply chains. Retailers participated alongside producers to share buyer requirements, improve alignment between infrastructure investments and market expectations, and strengthen connections across the supply chain.
In 2025, statewide supply-chain coordinators supported infrastructure awardees, local food retailers and aggregators, and institutional partners with supply chain connection opportunities, training, and technical assistance. This technical support incorporated regulatory, food safety, and buyer considerations, including targeted assistance for awardee project design, equipment selection, and facility workflows, reducing the likelihood of costly redesign. Because local food system development and food safety education are often delivered through separate programs, this novel Extension-led approach offers a replicable model for embedding education into federal infrastructure grants supporting specialty crop producers and resilient food systems.
Presentation Materials
Details
| Conference | 2026 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | Poster |