Thanks for joining us at the 2024 National Rural Grocery Summit in Montgomery, Alabama!

In June 2024, over 270 rural food systems stakeholders representing 32 states came together for two days of discovery, learning, and networking. Highlights of the event include 25 breakout sessions; three keynotes featuring John Ross, President and CEO of IGA, Inc.; Will McIntee, Director of Strategic Engagement for the White House Office of Public Engagement; and a culminating grocery keynote panel including four grocers from across the country and moderated by NGA's Chelsea Matzen. We recognized two leaders in rural grocery by naming Bryanne Olsen of Olsens Marketplace IGA in Ajo, AZ as the Rural Grocer of the Year and Jimmy Wright, with Wright's Market in Opelika, AL, the Grocery Champion of the Year. New this year, we offered two tours that visited rural grocery and food access projects across Alabama.

Date and location for the 2026 National Rural Grocery Summit will be announced in Spring 2025!

About

The National Rural Grocery Summit 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, share lessons learned, and innovate around best practices for sustaining locally-owned rural grocery stores and improving access to healthy food in rural communities.

Summit Objectives

• Explore the connections between rural grocery operations and community vitality
• Provide rural grocery store owners and rural grocery stakeholders the opportunity to network and learn from each other
• Highlight innovative models and strategies for strengthening healthy food retail in rural communities
• Chart a path for robust rural food systems that improve the health and well-being of rural communities

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K-State Research and Extension is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting the Rural Grocery Initiative at least two weeks prior to the start of the event at 785-532-6868 and rgi@ksu.edu. Requests received after this date will be honored when it is feasible to do so.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.