New Support for Farm and Food Businesses in Local, Regional Markets

By Blake Jackson

University of Missouri Extension is one of 14 partners to organize the new Heartland Regional Food Business Center(opens in new window) serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center will help farm and food entrepreneurs build the businesses and supply chain connections needed to meet growing demand for local and regionally produced food, said Patty Cantrell, communications lead for the Center.

The Heartland Regional Food Business Center is one of 12 established across the nation in 2023, with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to support development of a more resilient, diverse and competitive food system, Cantrell said. In addition to 14 key partners, more than a dozen collaborating partners are part of the Center’s work.

Local leadership

“MU Extension will provide on-the-ground assistance to local food and farm businesses and support the dissemination of business builder sub-awards to selected applicants across Missouri,” said Bill McKelvey, MU Extension senior project coordinator. MU Extension will provide technical assistance to new and expanding businesses, share information via a newsletter and other communication channels and develop food safety resources for farmers with limited English proficiency. “The effort will complement related programs in Missouri focused on agricultural entrepreneurship and value-added production, along with new funding coming to the state for food systems equipment and infrastructure,” he said.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave