Registration is open for the 2026 National Rural Grocery Summit to be held May 5-7 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, North Dakota. This biennial event aims to bring national attention to the innovative efforts underway to support rural grocery stores and improve food access.

North Dakota State University Extension is a sponsor of the event, which is hosted by Kansas State University, the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives.

Since 2008, this event has brought together grocery store operators, community leaders, food suppliers, academic researchers, healthy food access stakeholders, policymakers and funders to connect about sustaining locally owned and rural grocery stores.

NDSU Extension has been active in supporting the Rural Grocery Initiative for the past decade. In particular, NDSU Extension agents’ efforts in distributing a rural grocers survey led to legislative support for rural grocery stores.

“From a community health perspective, it’s imperative that North Dakotans have the opportunity to access affordable, healthy food, regardless of their zip code,” says Jan Stankiewicz, NDSU Extension community health and nutrition specialist and tribal liaison. “Instead of needing to travel thousands of miles, having the conference right here in North Dakota makes it a little easier for grocery owners to connect with peers, learn from others in the rural grocery world and go on tours to see how other stores are addressing the same challenges. “

In addition to keynotes from national leaders in rural life and grocery, this event will include over 25 breakout sessions, two evening receptions, a poster session, an exhibitor fair, networking opportunities and four tours highlighting innovative rural grocery models throughout Minnesota and North Dakota.

One panel presented by NDSU Extension is “Local Connections: A Grocery Store at the Heart of Rural Community,” which will highlight how owners revitalized their small-town grocery store using innovative programs.

“The Rural Grocery Initiative is thrilled to partner with organizations that have a long history of supporting rural grocers in their states,” said Rial Carver, program leader of the Rural Grocery Initiative at K-State Extension. "In recent years, we have seen the Upper Midwest innovate to support rural groceries, and we are thrilled to showcase these efforts on a national scale.”

Early bird registration rates are available through March 15. During this time, rural grocers receive complimentary registration for up to two people per store. After March 15, registration is $150 per grocer. Travel assistance is also available for owners, staff and board members of grocery stores in communities with populations of 2,500 or less.

For more information and to register for the National Rural Grocery Summit, visit ndsu.ag/grocery-summit.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – March 6, 2026

Source: Jodi Bruns, 701-710-0283, jodi.bruns@ndsu.edu

Source: Jan Stankiewicz, 701-877-2586, jan.stankiewicz@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu