Delta Harvest

We’re thrilled to announce that Hallie Shoffner is moving from part-time to full-time CEO of Delta Harvest! A lifelong farmer and dedicated rural advocate, Hallie has spent her career fighting for family farms, stronger rural economies, and a more sustainable food system. Raised on a farm in Arkansas, she earned a full-tuition scholarship to and received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. She studied at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and speaks Spanish. She earned a Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service and has diverse experience working with NGOs in India, Peru, and the Amazon rainforest, supporting health outreach campaigns, grant writing, and business development. For the last 10 years, she has operated her family's farm. She currently serves on the board of the Arkansas Foodbank and the Advisory Board for the KUAR/KLRE NPR Affiliate Station in Little Rock. Now, as she moves full-time into leading Delta Harvest, Hallie is laser-focused on creating new opportunities for farmers, building resilient rural economies, and making sure local food stays local. Join us as we cultivate change and grow prosperity! #DeltaHarvest #FarmHerHallie #RuralRevolution #LocalFood #StrongerDelta

Excited to share insights from my conversation with Yale Climate Connections on the Delta Harvest Food Hub and our collaboration with World Wildlife Fund to enhance agricultural diversity in the Delta region. It's time to invest in specialty crop infrastructure and food processing to help one of the country's most underserved regions. https://lnkd.in/eYxpWiUB Exploring the intersection of #foodhub, #specialtycrops, and the #mississippidelta.

Despite agriculture being the largest industry in Arkansas, serving rural areas where farms are located, these communities have been left behind. Farmers in these areas predominantly grow commodities like soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, wheat, and grain sorghum. However, the consumption of these crops is limited, and there is minimal local processing. This situation raises questions about the disconnect between the agricultural abundance and the actual sustenance of local communities. 1. While farmland values and average farm income have increased, commodity production is mainly unprofitable, especially for smaller farms, which has led to a national loss of 140k operations in the last five years. 2. Agricultural infrastructure is suited only for the major commodities, excluding farmers' abilities to diversify into other, more profitable specialty crops. The specialty crop industry is $30 billion annually in the US, yet the Delta captures only 0.19% of that pie. 3. We don't process the food we produce. Soybeans and corn, two major commodities, are mostly shipped elsewhere for processing. This strips the Delta of the businesses that provide support to the specialty crop industry, including processing facilities, cold storage, and reefer transportation. California has upwards of 4,000 companies that process specialty crops. Arkansas has between 300-500. 4. We don't eat the food we produce. Our soybean production, the largest crop by acres, is grown primarily for animal feed and ethanol. We are an agricultural food desert. This, unsurprisingly, correlates with some of the highest rates of metabolic and diet-related illnesses in the country. Arkansas is also the most food-insecure state in the U.S. 19% of measured households were deemed food-insecure. 19%! We can do better! The Delta, with its abundant fertile soils and water sources, can produce a variety of foods with the right INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE and farm support. That is why we formed Delta Harvest Regional Food Hub, a nonprofit that enables farmer access to specialty markets via marketing, processing, and distribution support. We also work with policymakers to reimagine government support of the specialty crop industry on local and federal levels. It's time to grow and process food to employ and feed our own people. #agriculture #delta #arkansas #specialtycrops #foodhub #deltaharvest #innovation #diversification

Headed to San Diego to share the stage at Sustainable Brands with Kristen Campos from Mars Food & Nutrition. Excited to discuss leveraging supplier diversity, climate resiliency, and regenerative farming for profitable specialty rice production in the Mid-Mississippi Delta region. Delta Harvest is a proud partner and coordinator of independent women and minority farmer rice production for Ben’s OriginalTM. #SustainableBrands #SupplierDiversity #ClimateResiliency #RegenerativeFarming #SpecialtyRice #MississippiDelta ????

An excellent article from a collaborative reporting effort by the Arkansas Times, Mississippi Free Press, and Tennessee Lookout on the work we're doing with World Wildlife Fund and key AgLaunch Farmer Network members, such as Hallie Shoffner, to research and test what it will take for farmers in the mid-Mississippi Delta to adapt to the changing climate and the possibility for the region to become a new hotspot for equitable specialty crop production. “We are forward-thinking farmers who want to change, who want to do something different,” Shoffner said. “We want to make more money, because we know we cannot make as much money as small farms in the current agricultural economy. We're excited to continue collaborating on this important work. https://lnkd.in/gNdjceK6

Non-transgenic gene editing technology, such as CRISPR-Cas9, is revolutionizing the future of climate resiliency in rice. This accelerated pathway, compared to traditional greenhouse crossing, holds immense potential for creating rice varieties that are more nutritious, require less water, withstand heat and environmental stressors, are disease resistant, and yield more. The possibilities of using CRISPR in rice are exciting and should be adopted and commercialized. Delta Harvest advocates for safe, consumer-friendly, farmer-friendly, and environmentally-friendly biotechnology for our food supply chain's more resilient and sustainable future. #CRISPR #GeneEditing #ClimateResiliency #RiceVarieties

When savoring our meals, we often forget the intricate journey our food embarks on before landing on our plates. Ever wondered about the process preceding farming? Farmers source seed stock from specialized companies that uphold crops' identities and genetic integrity. As a specialty rice producer, our process involves meticulous inspection of each rice plant, with our staff tending to every inch of the field diligently. While most rice seed stock originates from large companies, distinctive varieties like purples, reds, sake rice, and sushi rice stem from vital family-owned operations like ours. #Farming #FoodProduction #Agriculture #Rice #SpecialtyCrops #Science #Genetics #Delta #DeltaHarvest

Our Farmer-CEO is headed to San Diego in October to discuss #SustainableAgriculture. Three cheers for Sustainable Brands, Mars, and so many other food buyers and partners for taking action to protect farmers, consumers, and the planet through thoughtful discussion and collective action.

It’s all about trying new things. #specialtycrops

Let's transform the Southern Delta through specialty crop production! https://lnkd.in/euF385sT