4-17-06

FOSTERING CULINARY TOURISM IN IOWA

Iowa's rural communities have a full plate of food festivals each year, with celebrations for everything from sauerkraut to sweet corn to strawberries. These special events make up the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry, but what are their economic impacts in Iowa?

In a project funded by the Leopold Center's Marketing and Food Systems Initiative, researchers are looking for the answer. As part of the project, 180 people who attended one of 11 northeast Iowa food festivals were interviewed between June and October 2005. Total attendance at the festivals was estimated at about 36,200 people.

The survey estimated that festival visitors spent approximately $1.6 million, which resulted in a total economic impact of about $2.6 million, or an additional 61 cents for every $1 spent at the festivals. The survey also revealed that visitors were willing to pay more for locally produced food, indicating a potential for these festivals to grow as economic development tools for the region.

The Leopold Center worked on the project with the University of Northern Iowa's Sustainable Tourism and Environment Program (STEP) and the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area.

The study included these and other festivals: the Dows Corn Days, Aug. 5-6, Wright County; Lisbon's Sauerkraut Days, Aug. 11-13, Linn County; Blairstown Sauerkraut Days, Sept. 2-4, Benton County; and LeClaire's Apple Festival, Oct. 9, Scott County.
 

For more information, contact:

• Rich Pirog, Marketing and Food Systems Initiative, (515) 294-1854, rspirog@iastate.edu

• Jill Lankford, (319) 273-5826, jill.lankford@uni.edu; or Ariana Cela, (319) 273-6819, celaana@uni.edu, University of Northern Iowa

• Laura Miller, Leopold Center communications, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu

• Report of project results [PDF]

• Final project report (UNI STEP web site) [PDF]

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