Exhibitor Hall at 2024 National Rural Grocery Summit

Agenda

At a Glance

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

  • 8AM - 5PM: Rural Grocery Tours in MN and ND – Sign up at registration required. Exact times vary based on tour. Descriptions of the tours can be found at the bottom of this page.
  • 4 - 8 PM: Early Registration
  • 5PM: Pre-Conference Gathering

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - 8 am to 8 pm

  • Opening Keynote
  • Breakout Sessions
  • Lunch & Keynote
  • Poster Session
  • Exhibitor Fair
  • Evening Reception

Thursday, May 7, 2026 - 8 am to late afternoon

  • Breakout Sessions
  • Lunch & Award Ceremony
  • Closing Keynote

Travel considerations:

Optional pre-conference tours will begin first thing on Tuesday, May 5 and include a full day of travel to rural grocery stores and other relevant rural food infrastructure. Individuals registered to attend a pre-conference tour should plan accordingly and may choose to arrive in Fargo on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The main conference events will begin first thing on Wednesday, May 5, and continue through late afternoon on Thursday, May 7, 2026.  Attendees may choose to arrive in Fargo on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.  An optional pre-conference gathering will occur on the evening of Tuesday, May 5, 2026 for those interested in supercharging their conference networking experience. 

 

Tours:

  • Option A: Innovative Grocery Tour (MN) - Spend the day visiting three rural Minnesota groceries to learn how local leaders are sustaining food access in their communities. The tour departs from Fargo and first stops at Manna Food Co-op in Detroit Lakes, a store opened in 2015 that is now owned by over 1,100 members. The community-owned store moved to a new location in early 2026 and participants will be able to tour the space, including a shared processing kitchen which food entrepreneurs can use to be able to enter the wholesale market. Next, the group will travel to Larry’s Grocery in Pelican Rapids for a guided tour, lunch, and time to browse the store which has been providing service to the community for over 40 years and offers diverse grocery items to serve their community’s needs. The final stop is Main Street Market in Evansville, where attendees will split into two groups for an outdoor talk and indoor walkthrough of this unique self-serve grocery store with a 24-hour unstaffed model. Rest breaks are included throughout the trip. The tour concludes with a return to Fargo by early evening. This mobile session gives participants a direct look at rural grocery models and the practical approaches these stores use to serve their communities.
  • Option B: Up North Tour (MN) - This full-day mobile session takes participants across northwest Minnesota to visit three rural grocery stores and learn how each community supports local food access. The tour departs from Fargo and begins with a morning drive to Grygla (pop. 180) for a visit to the Grygla General Store featuring a guided walkthrough, time for lunch, and an opportunity to shop the store which has served the store for over 65 years with the current owner having taken over in 2022. The group then travels to Erskine (pop. 403) for a tour of Groceries Plus, a recipient of funding from Minnesota’s Good Food Access Program that enabled the store to update their refrigeration and become more energy efficient. The final stop of the day will be in Mahnomen. Restroom and shopping time is included at each location as available. The bus returns to Fargo by early evening. This tour offers an on-the-ground look at rural grocery operations, challenges, and the creative solutions these stores bring to their communities.
  • Option C: North Dakota Grocery Tour (ND) - Join us for a full-day tour exploring two rural grocery stores in northeast North Dakota. The tour departs from Fargo and begins with a visit to Jim’s Supervalu in Park River, where participants will take part in a guided walkthrough, enjoy a lunch break, and have time to shop. This store is a member of the innovative Rural Access Distribution (RAD) Cooperative which exemplifies an effective community-based response to alleviate food sourcing challenges faced by many rural grocery stores. Through the RAD Co-op, member stores purchase collectively from suppliers, ensuring better pricing and more diversified product offerings. While on the bus, participants will have the unique opportunity to hear from North Dakota State University’s Center for Social Research Director Nancy Hodur who will further detail the processes undertaken to establish the cooperative and identify key elements for achieving success in similar collaborations. The group will then travel to Hillsboro for a tour of Miller’s Food Pride, one of 10+ Miller’s Fresh Foods stores in North Dakota and Minnesota. This stop will include time for shopping and restrooms as available. After the final stop, the bus returns to Fargo in the afternoon. This mobile session provides a direct look at how rural grocers operate and the ways they continue supporting food access in their communities in the face of challenges.
  • Option D: Fargo Area Tour (ND) - Details coming soon!