Leopold Center - Local Produce = Local Profits

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Leopold Center at the 2006 Farm Progress Show

Local Produce = Local Profits

Iowans like locally grown food. Just ask the growing number of producers who sell at farmers markets, operate community supported agriculture (CSA) enterprises, and supply restaurants, food services and grocery stores in their communities. It's a new kind of economic development.

Here's what the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture has learned about these new opportunities.

What's the economic impact of farmers markets?

Iowa has more than 170 farmers markets (the highest per capita in the U.S.) that generate at least $20 million in sales and 325 jobs each year.

What's the potential for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprises?

CSAs generate an average per acre net return of nearly $2,500, according to a 2002 survey of Midwestern CSA farmers. Most have other farm enterprises, yet CSAs provide more than half of the family income.

What's the potential for selling to restaurants, hospitals and other food services?

The University of Northern Iowa Local Food Project tracks food sales by local farmers to institutions in Black Hawk and surrounding counties. Sales in 2005 totaled $590,000, a 542 percent increase since 1998.

What's the potential market for fruit and vegetable production?

It varies by crop. Using current estimates, only 25-50 percent of the apples, 12 percent of the squash, 10 percent of the tomatoes, 5 percent of the carrots and 1 percent of the spinach consumed fresh in Iowa is grown within the state.

What's the link between healthy eating and economic benefits?

If Iowans ate five servings of fruits and vegetables every day and bought them all locally while in season (three months of the year), an additional $300 million and more than 4,000 jobs would be added to the Iowa economy.

Getting more information

A number of resources are available on these topics from Iowa State University Extension, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and other groups. Many of the publications below can be downloaded by clicking on the link; ISU Extension publications are available in printed form from your local county extension office.

CSAs and Farmers Markets

Find a farmers market in Iowa, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship web site: www.agriculture.state.ia.us/farmermarket.asp
Iowa CSA Farms, 2006 Statewide list of Iowa CSA farms, producers and organizers, ISU Extension publication PM1693 [$1.00]
Local food systems for Iowa: Community Supported Agriculture, ISU Extension publication PM1692 [$0.50]
Iowa Community Supported Agriculture Resource Guide for Producers and Organizers, ISU Extension publication PM1694 [$5.00]
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in the Midwest United States: A regional characterization, Leopold Center research report
Consumers, vendors and the economic importance of Iowa farmers' markets: An economic impact survey analysis, Leopold Center research report

Local Food Systems

How far do your fruit and vegetables travel? Leopold Center publication [PDF]
Find local source for food in Iowa, Practical Farmers of Iowa Buy Fresh Buy Local marketing campaign web site: www.practicalfarmers.org/buyfresh.asp
The economic impacts of increased fruit and vegetable production and consumption in Iowa, Leopold Center research report
How can extension educators promote and support local food system development?, North Central Regional Center for Rural Development publication
Using organic agriculture and sustainable crops and livestock in the local food system, ISU Extension publication PM1995 [$5.00]
Ecolabel value assessment II: Consumer perceptions of local foods, Leopold Center research report

Local Food Enterprises

Iowa Produce Market Potential Calculator, web-based Leopold Center research tool: www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/calculator/home.htm
Iowa Vegetable Production Budgets, ISU Extension publication PM2017 [$2.25]
Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Growers, ISU Extension publication FG0600, $13.50
Local Food Connections: From farms to schools, ISU Extension publication PM1853a [$0.50]
Local Food Connections: From farms to restaurants, ISU Extension publication PM1853b [$0.50]
Local Food Connections: Food service considerations, ISU Extension publication PM1853c [$0.50]
On-farm Food Safety: Guide to good agricultural practices, ISU Extension publication PM1974a
On-farm Food Safety: Guide to food handling, ISU Extension publication PM1974b
On-farm Food Safety: Guide to cleaning and sanitizing, ISU Extension publication PM1974c

See the Leopold Center display

See other ISU displays at the 2006 Farm Progress Show

Back to Past Leopold Center events page