Registration open now at strathcona.ca/connectforfood
Strathcona County and Connect for Food are pleased to present the 2025 Agrifood Connector at Festival Place, Sherwood Park, on Monday, November 3.
Who: If you’re a food producer, processor, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, restaurateur, equipment supplier, financier, or marketer — you need to be here!
What: The 2025 Agrifood Connector is where producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and changemakers converge to spark ideas, forge new relationships, and take action.
Why: This event will facilitate connections, foster relationships and increase economic development and diversity in the agrifood sector.
The day runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and features the following Connect for Food activities:
We are pleased to present our keynote speaker, Sanford Gleddie, The Little Potato Company Executive VP Sales, Marketing & Business Development, who will discuss Small Potatoes, Big Realities: Lessons from Little Potato Company Journey.
A grower, processor, distributor, retailer, and restaurateur delve into the complexities as well as the possibilities and challenges of our food system
A dynamic, round-table session where you’ll share what you have and what you need to forge new relationships
Face to face conversations with innovative, leading businesses and organizations from the food sector
This event builds on the momentum of the CFF Roundtable (April 2025), where participants identified the need to shift to a food system model rooted in stronger connections between supply and demand pieces of the food system—an opportunity not to be missed by those shaping its future.
Strathcona County CFF Roundtable
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Connect for Food Roundtable on April 7, 2025, in Strathcona County—it was a packed room and an inspiring day!
A diverse group of people from across the local food system came together for conversations that were rich, honest, and forward-looking. Together, we explored what’s working in the agrifood system, what’s missing, and what it will take to build the future we want to see.
The Roundtable supported action items identified in Strathcona County’s Agriculture and Food Sector Development Strategy. We're excited about the collaboration and ideas sparked, and look forward to what comes next.
NAFMA Region
In 2022-24 Connect for Food embarked on its first project. In collaboration with Community Futures Northeast Partnership and the Northeast Alberta Food Marketers Association (NAFMA), and with funding from PrairiesCan, CFF workshops were held in Ardmore, Flat Lake, Bruderheim, Lac la Biche, Lloydminster and Vermilion. In April, 2024, the engagement culminated in a Symposium, Showcase & Exchange in Vermilion, bringing together 120 people to discuss changes wanted in our food economy.
NAFMA Champion Organization
The NAFMA Region project successfully laid the foundation for lasting impact by empowering a stand-alone society to address key issues identified through the Connect for Food process. As a result, in November 2024, the Northeast Alberta Food Marketers Association was revitalized with a new board, an engaged membership, and a vision for the future. The organization is now developing a strategic plan to foster a community-based, inter-regional approach to strengthening socioeconomic outcomes in the agrifood sector.
