Two regions receive funds for local food efforts

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December 1, 2008

AMES, Iowa -- With a growing demand for local foods, two groups in Iowa hope to help farmers and businesses meet that demand, as well as create economic opportunities to their communities.

The Regional Food Systems Working Group (RFSWG) coordinated by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University is providing $10,000 grants to help get local food efforts off the ground in Marshall County in central Iowa and Black Hawk and surrounding counties in northeast Iowa. RFSWG-supported efforts are now working in 40 of Iowa's 99 counties.

"These grants will accelerate the development of local food efforts underway in these counties and connect them to the RFSWG learning community," said RFSWG coordinator Rich Pirog, who also leads the Center's Marketing and Food Systems Initiative.

Pirog said other groups have used RFSWG funds to offer mini-grants to farmers, assess market capacity, gather information for directories showing where to buy local foods, and other activities. The important thing is that each group determines what will help its region meet the challenges of growing, processing and distributing local foods.

The Marshall County effort is a coalition including Marshalltown Community College, ISU Extension, the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture, Prairie Rivers RC&D in Ames, and the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development at ISU. The group will be working with the county's Latino population, using an approach that crosses cultural lines to draw upon agricultural knowledge and interest in healthy, fresh food among native Iowans and as well as new immigrants.

"A significant population of new Iowans is accustomed to both growing and purchasing fresh meats and produce," said John Paulin, who coordinates the RC&D in Ames. "We also have an existing base of markets and restaurants that feature locally grown products. Coupled with the entrepreneurial ag program at Marshalltown Community College, there are tremendous opportunities for local foods producers and consumers alike in Marshall County."

In northern Iowa, the new Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership (NIFFP) is an expansion of the University of Northern Iowa's Local Food Project that has facilitated institutional purchases of produce, dairy and meat products during the past 10 years with Leopold Center support. Work will be focused in Black Hawk, Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy and Tama counties. The group is studying the feasibility of a food distribution network and meat buying club.

"There is a lot of exciting local food work in northern Iowa right now," said Andrea Geary, NIFFP's program coordinator. "We are thankful for the Leopold Center's support, which allows us to capitalize on the momentum created by our local food producers and buyers."

Other RFSWG-supported groups include:

• Hometown Harvest of Southeast Iowa (Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Van Buren and Wapello counties), led by the Pathfinders RC&D, Fairfield;
• Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition (Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties), led by Iowa State University Extension, Decorah;
• South West Iowa Food and Farm Initiative (Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Montgomery, Pottawattomie and Shelby counties), led by the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development, Lewis; and
• Northwest Iowa Regional Local Foods System (Cherokee, Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Sioux and Woodbury), led by the Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market program in Sioux City.

Pirog said some of the groups have hired part-time coordinators who create excitement and synergy in communities. In Pottawattamie County, local food champions have helped county officials develop a policy that will provide $30,000 a year over the next five years for a local foods council to help increase local food sales in the Omaha-Council Bluffs trade area.

Over the past two years, RFSWG has surpassed its goal of increasing local food sales. Sales of local foods tracked in several communities showed a $330,000 increase during the past year. One food cooperative in northeast Iowa tripled in size and increased the number of local food vendors from 18 to 78.

More information about the groups and their activities appears on the RFSWG web site.

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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/12-01-2008/two-regions-receive-funds-local-food-efforts on 01/21/2013