Description:

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Law Center are facilitating a series of workshops called Plan. Produce. Profit. Workshop participants will learn how to operate under the Arkansas Food Freedom Act for selling homemade food items to the public. Attendees will be eligible to receive a free pH meter for producing food products that need pH testing. Funding for these workshops is provided by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture through the USDA Specialty Crop Producers Program.

Link to the Flyer for event

Agenda

Speakers may vary by workshop location. Speakers below reflect April 24 workshop.

8:30-9:00 am               Registration

9:00-9:15 am               Welcome and Introduction

Speaker: Harrison Pittman

9:15-9:45 am               Family and Consumer Sciences Programs

Presenter: Bryan Mader

9:45-10:45 am             Arkansas Food Freedom Act

Presenters: Jeff Jackson and Bryan Mader

10:45-11:00 am           Break

11:00-11:30 am           Food Liability

Presenter: Rusty Rumley

11:30-12:00 pm           Creating & Processing Value-Added Food Products in Arkansas

Presenter: Dr. Rene Threlfall

12:00-1:00 pm             Lunch

1:00-1:30 pm               Food Manufacturing in Arkansas: Share Grounds Certified Kitchen

Presenter: Dr. Amanda Philyaw Perez

1:30-2:00 pm               Food Manufacturing in Arkansas: Arkansas Food Innovation Center

Presenter: John Swenson

2:00-2:30 pm               Demo pH Meter (Recorded Video)

2:30-3:00 pm               Wrap Up

Workshop Dates and Locations

April 24, 2023

Don Tyson Center for Agricultural Sciences

1371 W. Altheimer Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72704

 

May 10, 2023

Cooperative Extension Auditorium

2301 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204

 

May 23, 2023

Southwest Research & Extension Center

362 Hwy. 174 North, Hope, AR 71801

 

May 31, 2023

Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas

3414 One Place, Jonesboro, AR 72404

Materials from Presentations

• Specialty Crops book
• Slides from Presentation:
  • Family and Consumer Science Programs – Dr. Bryan Mader
  • Food Freedom Act – Jeff Jackson, R.S.
  • Liability Issues with Food Processing – Rusty Rumley
  • Creating and Processing Value-Added Food Products in Arkansas – Dr. Renee Threlfall
  • Food Manufacturing in Arkansas: Share Grounds Certified Kitchen – Dr. Amanda Philyaw Perez
  • Food Manufacturing in Arkansas: Arkansas Food Innovation Center – John Swenson

Important Links:

Arkansas Food Freedom Act

Homemade Food Guide

Producing Value-Added Food Products from Surplus Food Produce

The Arkansas Food Freedom Act & Hobbyist Beekeeper Operations