Tuesday, August 25, 2026
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Yavapai College Prescott Campus
1100 E. Sheldon Street
Prescott, AZ 86301

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Cultivating Tomorrow

The Good Food Forum is where change makers in Arizona’s food economy come to connect, collaborate and drive real solutions. From 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.

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

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2026 Keynote Xochitl Torres Small

Xochitl is 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.

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.

Xochitl lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico with her husband, horses, dogs, and cats. They spend as much time as possible hunting and exploring the great outdoors.

2026 Speakers

Our 2026 Good Food Forum Sponsors

This event is not sponsored or endorsed by Yavapai College