About AFIC@MCO
Who is AFIC@MCO?
Arkansas Food Innovation Center at the Market Center of the Ozarks
A multi-faceted food facility that brings together farmers, businesses, entrepreneurial support organizations, academia, and industry in a collaborative environment to drive innovation and growth.
Vision
Foster the innovation and prosperity of Northwest Arkansas’ small food businesses.
Mission
We connect farmers, food businesses, and communities through affordable commercial kitchen space, processing facilities, expertise, and education.
Principles
1. Creating Equal Opportunities for Food Businesses
We provide affordable kitchen facilities and contract food processing services to lower the barriers of equipment investment, enabling food entrepreneurs to grow and succeed.
2. Nurturing Food Businesses to Thrive and Succeed
We support food entrepreneurs by fostering collaboration and offering resources, including business development, marketing, and food safety training.
3. Offering a Supportive Framework for Reduced Upfront Investment
We offer low-volume contract food processing and flexible, no long-term lease requirements that enable food businesses to innovate, test products, and scale with minimal risk and upfront investment.
4. Enhancing NWA as a Culinary Destination to Drive Lasting Change
We aim to elevate NWA’s culinary reputation through fresh, local foods and a collaborative food culture, promoting community engagement and nutrition education.
AFIC@MCO, built with support from the Walton Family Foundation as part of the Northwest Arkansas Food Systems initiative, is part of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, and operates alongside the original Arkansas Food Innovation Center in Fayetteville. AFIC@MCO collaborates with the Spring Creek Food Hub to provide education, technical assistance, and supply chain access for local farmers.
Introducing Market Center of the Ozarks
Building Sustainable Small Businesses’ Futures
Meet the AFIC@MCO Team
Contact Us