About
Who We Are
The Arkansas Food Innovation Center at the Market Center of the Ozark, expected to open in late 2024, is a food processing hub serving Northwest Arkansas. AFIC@MCO will offer a rentable commercial kitchen space for food trucks, caterers, and other food entrepreneurs. It will also operate a produce processing line to convert local farmers’ produce into value-added products with options for refrigerated fresh, frozen, and some shelf-stable products.
Experts at AFIC@MCO will provide clients with all the training they need to operate kitchen equipment and can help clients create nutrition labels, perform product testing, and provide regulatory advice. Business and marketing experts will also offer business training classes to help businesses increase sales and expand their reach.
AFIC@MCO is located in the Market Center of the Ozarks, a 45,000-square-foot food hub in Springdale built with support from the Walton Family Foundation as part of the Northwest Arkansas Food Systems initiative. It will share the space and collaborate with the Spring Creek Food Hub, which provides education, technical assistance and supply chain access for local farmers, including fresh produce aggregation.
AFIC@MCO is a unit of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Along with the original Arkansas Food Innovation Center in Fayetteville, AFIC@MCO is the second independently operated food processing hub within the Division of Agriculture.
By giving area farmers and food entrepreneurs the space, equipment and expertise to transform local produce into food products, AFIC@MCO aims to serve the regional food system by fostering innovation and creating opportunities for small businesses to bring their products to market.
Our Mission
Our mission is to serve as a continuous conduit connecting farmers, food producers, entrepreneurs, and communities by providing essential education, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry expertise. Through professional partnerships, innovative practices, and community engagement, we aim to create a positive impact that fosters growth and prosperity for all involved parties.
About Director
Darryl Holliday
Executive Director
479-575-4316 | aficmco@uada.edu
Dr. Holliday is a senior level food and beverage professional with expertise in culinary and food science product development, ingredient functionality, cost reduction, and business development/market presence. His educational background as well as his product development experience with everything from start-up operations to multi-national companies uniquely positions him to support many clients. This background has allowed him to become a Certified Research Chef through the Research Chefs Association. His 20+ years in the food industry have included work in bakeries, fine dining establishments, multi-unit chain restaurants (both kitchen and management), specialty ingredient companies, and finished product manufacturers.