Community Food Systems
K-State Extension’s Community Food Systems team works with Kansas communities to support local food systems, food production and food businesses. Functioning food systems help communities with options for fresh food production, processing, distribution, consumption, and waste management. We build partnerships to help communities with food-related issues. These partnerships enhance environmental, economic, social and nutritional health across Kansas.
The Community Food Systems team includes staff formerly housed within the Heartland Regional Food Business Center and the Regional Food Systems Partnership program, alongside colleagues at the Rural Grocery Initiative. Together, this unified team provides statewide technical assistance, network facilitation, and resource navigation to support and strengthen the Kansas food system from farm to fork.
Resources
Learn more about our collaborative programming efforts from our team, or contact your local extension office.
Learn more about our programs and resources for supporting your local food system on our website.
Stay up-to-date on Community Food Systems programs and opportunities including our quarterly town halls, business technical assistance, food business startup summits, and other events.
Rebecca McMahon
Community Food Systems Specialist
rmcmahon@ksu.edu; 316-361-6779
Areas of Specialization:
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- Local Food System Town Halls, Local Food Summit
- Food system assessment, planning, and facilitation
- Urban, peri-urban, and rural food systems
- Fruit and vegetable production
- School and community gardens
- Farm to School
- Food access
- Farmers markets
- Food hubs
Quinlan Carttar
Food Business Resource Navigator
qcarttar@ksu.edu; 785-331-7668
Areas of Specialization:
- Food and Farm Business Development
- Food Product Development
- Licensing Kitchens and Food Trucks
- Licensed Kitchens (shared, incubator, commissary, and community kitchens)
- Urban and peri-urban food systems
- Kansas Food First Magazine
- Food Business Start-up Summit
Jenny Doty
Food Business Resource Navigator
jdoty8@ksu.edu; 913-717-9807
Areas of Specialization:
- Food and Farm Business Development
- Food Product Development
- Rural Grocery Stores
- Licensing Kitchens and Food Trucks
- Farmers Markets
- Kansas Food First Magazine
- Food Business Start-up Summit
Clara Misenhelter
Rural Grocery Initiative Program Manager
clarawicoff@ksu.edu; 785-532-6868
Areas of Specialization:
- Rural Grocery Stores
- Food Access
- Kansas Healthy Food Initiative (for both urban communities and rural communities)
- Rural Grocery Transition Specialist (transition planning / succession planning)
- National Rural Grocery Summit
- Rural Grocery Peer Groups
Adelaide Easter
Rural Grocery Initiative Program Manager
Areas of Specialization:
- Rural Grocery Stores
- Food Access
- Kansas Healthy Food Initiative (for both urban communities and rural communities)
Programs and Events
Contact your local extension office for information on classes and events.
Throughout the year we host a wide range of programs and events, including Local Food Producer Workshops, Food Business Start-Up Summits, Local Food Town Halls and more! Visit our website to learn more about upcoming events.
Our team offers technical assistance to farms, businesses, and community groups that are exploring opportunities or having challenges within their business or community food system. Technical assistance is available in areas such as: development, funding, infrastructure, planning, value chain coordination and more.