April 2025

Local Foods

Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

We will be hosting a weeklong series of events and activities to educate about compost: what is it? how is it made? how is it used? what can be composted? Dr. Matt Bertucci, assistant professor of sustainable fruit and vegetable production, made an introductory video to kick off this year's events!

Image of a plastic bucket containing vegetable scraps from a youtube video on composting.

Schedule of Events

May 5, 12-1PM: "Compost 101" webinar

“Compost 101” — Colin Massey, Washington County extension agent
“Digging Deeper: Compost as a Soils Amendment” — Dr. Matt Bertucci
Update on Compost Week activities — Rachel Woody-Pumford, graduate student

Join "Compost 101" Webinar Here

May 6, 12-2PM: “Composting at the Union"

Location: Student Union, 435 N. Garland Ave., Fayetteville.

The event offers educational materials about how to compost, composting activities on campus, and information on composting programs offered by the City of Fayetteville and Ozark Compost.

May 7, 12-1PM - "Not for Landfill! Composting for the Environment" webinar

“Composting to mitigate food waste” – Food Loops
“Composting with the City of Fayetteville” – City of Fayetteville

Join "Not for Landfill!" Webinar Here

May 8, 5-7PM — Compost Meet-Up

Location: Fossil Cove Brewing, 1946 N. Birch Ave, Fayetteville.

A meet-up to network and share ideas, activities, and resources.

May 8, 4:30-7:30PM - Composting Social

Location: Night Farmers Market at St. Joseph Center of Arkansas, 6800 Camp Robinson Road, North Little Rock

Meet with compost and soil amendment producers, farmers, gardeners, and other compost enthusiasts while shopping for local produce. Man of the Red Earth vermicompost and red wiggler demo.

May 9, 1:30-4PM - Compost in Action

Location: Washington County Extension Office, 2536 N. McConnell Ave., Fayetteville

Learn about the Master Composter program, see hands-on demonstrations for home composting systems, and see large-scale composting in action. Bring your own bucket. Five gallons of compost offered per attendee.

May 9, 4:30-7PM - Rebuilding the UA-Little Rock Campus Garden Composting System

Location: 3343 Fair Park Blvd., Little Rock.

Volunteer opportunity and networking event. Come out for a hands-on compost bin construction activity!

Produce Safety - An Update

"Federal Budget Cuts Halt Key Produce Safety Certification in Arkansas"

Arkansas fruit and vegetable growers will have one last opportunity to complete a vital food safety certification this spring. The Cooperative Extension Service will host its final Produce Safety Grower Training on May 15 at the Faulkner County Extension Office in Conway before the program is paused due to federal funding cuts.

“This will be our last training session until we are able to secure a new funding opportunity or set up the program as fee-based,” said Amanda Philyaw Perez, Extension Associate Professor and Food Systems and Food Safety Specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “Currently, we charge $25 for the training, but without program support, we may need to charge several hundred dollars per attendee in the future.”

The training will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 844 Faulkner Street in Conway. Registration is limited to 20 participants and registration closes May 12th. The $25 registration fee includes lunch, snacks, drinks, and all training supplies.

May 15, 2025 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm - Produce Safety Grower Training Registration: https://uada.formstack.com/forms/psa_faulkner

This training fulfills certification requirements under the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, which applies to most fresh produce farms. Participants will receive a certificate of completion that satisfies federal standards for produce safety.

“The FSMA regulations are about prevention — ensuring we avoid food-safety incidents before they occur,” said Sarah Bakker, Extension Food Systems and Food Safety Program Associate. “Growers who attend will gain the knowledge and certification they need to stay in compliance and reduce both food safety risks and financial liability.”

Since 2017, the Division of Agriculture, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, has trained around 500 local growers and service providers through this federally funded program. However, without renewed funding, the outreach and training initiative will officially conclude on June 30.

Despite the program’s pause, growers can still reach out for support. Greg Alexander, Produce Safety Program Manager for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, and Amanda Perez remain available to answer technical questions.

For assistance or more information, contact:

Greg Alexander at 501-225-1598, gregory.alexander@agriculture.arkansas.gov
Amanda Philyaw Perez at 501-671-2228, aperez@uada.edu

Thank you for attending!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our April Produce Safety Grower Training in Batesville! We appreciate your engagement and thoughtful questions. We hope you found the information valuable and that we can continue to support the success of your produce safety programs.

Sarah Bakker had the pleasure of speaking to a group of incredible veteran farmers at an NCAT event in April. The event was geared towards specialty crop growers, and while Produce Safety isn't always the most exciting topic to end a day on, participants still had fantastic questions and input! We are looking forward to seeing these heroic growers succeed in their future endeavors.

Value-Added

Shout-Outs from David

Foederati Foods – March 17, 2025

Chris Chambliss of Foederati Foods, our newest Share Grounds client, produced his first batch of Farinata pancake mix at the facility located in Rison, Arkansas. Farinata is an Italian street food, much like a crepe’ but with a savory twist. Chris has been working diligently to get his company off the ground and is finally seeing the fruits of his efforts. Way to go Chris and good luck!

Interested in starting your own value-added business? Reach out to our team! Via sharegrounds@uada.edu!

Hamburg Economic Development Commission - April 15, 2025

David Hill traveled to Rison and met with Rison city mayor, Charles Roberts, Hamburg Economic Development Commission and Downtown Hamburg representative, Inez Barnes and Georganna Cossey of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

The Hamburg delegation was looking for ideas to help bring activity to a building the Hamburg Economic Development commission had acquired. They are interested in using it as a shared kitchen like SG-Rison or using it as a multi-use facility. More information to come!

Arkansas Food Freedom and Homemade Food Safety at the Ferndale Farmer's Market

📆 May 3, 2025

📍 Extension Club Building

127021 Kanis Rd, Little Rock, AR 72223

Join us for an informative session on Arkansas Food Freedom laws and safe practices for homemade food production. Whether you're just getting started or looking to sell your home-prepared foods at local markets, this event is for you!

David Hill will guide aspiring food entrepreneurs through the basics of legal requirements, food safety, and tips for success at the Ferndale Farmer’s Market.

🛒 No registration required — just come ready to learn and connect!

See you there!

Preserving Arkansas Summer Series:

Berry Sweet Business

📆 June 5, 2025

📍 1 4-H Way, Little Rock, AR 72223 (4-H Center in Ferndale)

🕒 Evening event – 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm

🎟️ Registration opens soon! (email Amanda at aperez@uada.edu for more information)

Join us for a deliciously fun evening where we’ll turn Arkansas-grown strawberries into Arkansas-made jam—and teach you how to turn your home preservation hobby into a small business!

The UA Division of Agriculture’s Local Food and Preservation Teams are teaming up with local farmer and food artisan Margie Raimondo of Urbana Farmstead to host a hands-on workshop perfect for backyard gardeners, passionate foodies, and aspiring entrepreneurs eager to dive into home-based food production.

What’s on the menu:

Understanding the Arkansas Food Freedom Act
Key food safety practices for home processors
A live strawberry jelly-making demo with Margie Raimondo of Urbana Farmstead
Taste-test fresh samples—and take some jelly home!

Whether you're looking to reduce food waste, stock your pantry, or start selling at your local market, this workshop will get you cooking with confidence. 🍓

Check back next month for more events in this summer series!

Upcoming Events

Agritourism Webinar

As agritourism continues to grow, ensuring accessibility for all guests is both a legal requirement and a business imperative. Join the National Agricultural Law Center for a free webinar on Wednesday, May 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CT, titled "Navigating ADA Compliance for Agritourism Guests."

This session will provide an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it applies to agritourism operations, covering topics such as transportation, signage, service animals, and emotional support animals. Presenter Jackie Schweichler, a staff attorney at Penn State’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, will offer practical insights to help you create a legally compliant environment for all visitors.

Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT

Shop Local every Thursday night at St. Joseph's!

The weekly THURSDAY NIGHT MARKET at St. Joseph's Center has officially begun! This market runs from April 24 through October 30, EVERY Thursday, 4:30-7:30.

The Growing Urban Farmers program at St. Joseph's is still accepting vendor applications for the Night Market. The booths are free to vendors and have the following guidelines:

1) Food-focus!

2) Food MUST be grown or produced in Arkansas.

3) A farmer can only sell their own items.

4) Very small growers/community gardens can share a booth!

5) Growers can sign up for every market, or just a few.

Visit the webpage for Growing Urban Farmers, and if you would like to learn more about having a booth at the market, go here.

Spring Master Gardener Plant Sales Across the State!

Looking for local options to purchase plants for your summer garden? Local Master Gardener programs are hosting plant sales across the state in coming weeks. Plants include native perennials, unique ornamentals, herbs, veggies, and more. These events are a great way to support community horticulture efforts while finding high-quality plants raised right here in Arkansas.

🌱Find a plant sale near you! 🌱