Prescott, Arizona — Yavapai College will host the Good Food Forum on its Prescott campus on Tue. Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Good Food Forum invites changemakers in Arizona’s food economy to come connect, collaborate and drive real solutions. From food producers and chefs to advocates and educators, this Local First Arizona signature event brings together voices from every corner of our region to build a more resilient, inclusive and accessible local food future.
Through interactive panels and hands-on workshops, attendees gain knowledge, build relationships and take away actionable strategies to strengthen Arizona’s food system — from farm to table and everywhere in between.
“Yavapai College is proud to welcome the Good Food Forum and the important conversations it brings to our community,” said Dr. Doug Berry, Yavapai College Acting President. “Education, innovation, and community partnerships are part of our mission, and this event reflects those values.”
The forum’s 2026 keynote speaker is Xochitl Torres Small, a sunny New Mexican who loves the land. The granddaughter of farmworkers, Xoch went on to serve her home as an attorney practicing water and natural resources law, a United States Representative, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary. Now, she’s proud to continue forging solutions as executive director of Quivira Coalition, which fosters resilience on working lands.
In Congress, Xoch represented the largest district that wasn’t a whole state. She changed complex regulations to support collaborative water conservation and made White Sands a National Park. During COVID, she helped keep farmers, small business owners, and rural hospitals from bankruptcy. At the Department of Agriculture, Xoch first worked at Rural Development, overseeing an annual $40 billion to connect people to high-speed internet and water systems, invest in rural health care and businesses, build homes, and expand clean energy.
As deputy secretary, Xoch served as chief operating officer for over 100,000 civil servants. During her tenure, she helped make permitting more efficient and created the USDA’s first drought program financed through the Commodity Credit Corporation. She’s been confirmed by a bipartisan United States Senate twice.
“I am thrilled to be at Yavapai College, speaking about the importance of local agriculture. Together, we can create resilience across the Southwest, especially when it comes to the future of our working lands. I’m looking forward to connecting with Arizonans who are focused on building systems for good, healthy food and ecosystems,” Torres Small said.
This year’s theme, Cultivating Tomorrow, is all about turning today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. Through practical panels, workshops and working sessions, attendees will explore topics including:
- The future of water in the Verde Valley and beyond
- Sustainable ranching in practice
- Strategies for local sourcing
- Growing Arizona wine from vineyard to market
- Meat processing challenges and opportunities in Arizona
- Tribal food sovereignty and food accessibility
- Native pollinators and seed stewardship
Yavapai College Executive Director of Culinary Experience Aimee Novak and Sustainability Project Manager Rebecca Serratos will host the breakout session “Building the Pipeline Together: Working Session on Arizona’s North–South Food System” at 10:15 a.m.
The session will address Arizona’s local food pipeline dependence on producers, institutional buyers, distributors, and food-system partners moving in the same direction. In this session, they discuss food safety standards for the regional food system, brainstorm solutions for the middle of the supply chain, and work through how to better organize statewide. Attendees will have opportunities to continue shaping this work both at the conference and beyond.
“The Eatery at Yavapai College and Local First Arizona share values in supporting local foodways, investing in community, and reducing our impact on the environment,” Novak said. “We are proud to partner with Local First Arizona to bring Arizona’s annual Good Food Forum to the northern part of the state. We are excited to welcome many changemakers, advocates, farmers, and food entrepreneurs to the Yavapai College campus and the community.”
Learn more online at https://devourgoodfood.com/
Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.