Leopold Center workshop highlights food systems research, collaboration

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AMES, Iowa -- Local and regional food systems are not only alive and well in Iowa, they also can be profitable for farmers and the communities they serve. That’s the message from a recent marketing workshop sponsored by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Anthony Flaccavento has seen the success of a 60-member network for small and midsize farmers in the Appalachian region of southwest Virginia, eastern Tennessee and a part of North Carolina. During the past growing season, the network sold nearly $515,000 of fresh fruit and vegetables to 600 supermarkets that carry the Appalachian Harvest brand. The network operates three delivery trucks and a 15,000 sq. ft. processing facility.

Flaccavento shared his story during the Leopold Center’s 2010 Marketing and Food Systems Initiative Workshop on April 1 in Ames. More than 200 people participated in the event, which featured updates on 20 projects supported by the Leopold Center’s Marketing and Food Systems Initiative and working groups that are part of the Value Chain Partnerships project.

“We like to say that we grow ordinary food for ordinary people,” said Flaccavento, who grows organic vegetables in high tunnels. “The market for this kind of food is so much larger than the supply that we never have enough produce.”

They have been successful in spite of having few major urban markets, he added. Farmer-members accustomed to growing tobacco also were willing to switch to producing other crops in high-value markets and work together in the effort.

“Moving to fruit and vegetables from a commodity crop sounds like an enormous risk – but we’ve been able to fairly successfully reduce that risk with solid, good-sized markets, diversity of products and a lot of educational, technical and peer support,” he said. “We're striving to provide a better livelihood for local farmers while improving land stewardship.”

One of the most popular breakouts during the workshop was a morning session that brought together leaders of local food system efforts across Iowa. Six groups reported on activities that ranged from business training for Latino audiences interested in agriculture, farm-to-school programs, local food policy councils and recruiting producers for farmers markets. All groups have been part of the Leopold Center’s Regional Food Systems Working Group that serves as a learning community.

Another session reported on two new Leopold Center-supported learning communities, the Iowa Farm Energy Working Group and the Mid-American Agroforestry Working Group. The farm energy group has focused on grant applications to support new technology for small farms. The agroforestry group hopes to help landowners and managers add trees and shrubs for wildlife habitat, water quality improvement and additional farm income. 

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/04-14-2010/leopold-center-workshop-highlights-food-systems-research-collaboration on 01/21/2013