United Fresh President and CEO Tom Stenzel took part in a conference at the University of Arkansas this week to look at the future role of small and mid-size farms in providing foods for local and regional food systems.

The Agile Agriculture conference was hosted by the university's Applied Sustainability Center within the Walton College of Business, and was sponsored in part by United members L&M Companies and Walmart.

"I found an interesting contrast in these discussions among those who primarily see the future of local agriculture as direct marketing to retail farm markets and local grocery stores and restaurants, compared with those who see opportunities for regional growers to take a place in the overall produce supply chain," Stenzel said. "It seems to me that for new local growers to join in the overall food system, they are going to need to form partnerships with companies in aggregating supply, marketing and handling logistics, as well as learning to comply with industry standards in food safety, traceability and other key responsibilities."