Buying and eating (W)right in north central Iowa: The untold growing story of local food in Wright County

In 2004 local producers in Wright County sold nearly a quarter of a million dollars worth of locally produced food to local buyers! The Wright County Here's to Our Health Committee has added a significant new page to its local food portfolio through the Buying and Eating (W)right project. USDA data collected in 2004 painted a picture of disconnection describing subsidy-dependent conventional agriculture, farms steadily losing ground, and a minimum of local food activity. Moving from this macro-economic picture, this year's work has zoomed in for a closer look at the local landscape of local food economic activity.

Gross sales, local labor expenses and locally purchased input data have been collected through mailed surveys. A survey of 2004 data was mailed to food producers and food buyers in early 2005. More than two dozen food products, from fresh vegetables and baked goods to fruits and meats, were represented in the survey results. Restaurants, caterers, hospitals, and grocers were included in the survey. Farmers markets and a local meat locker were the significant markets for locally grown food. A survey of 2005 data was mailed in mid-November. Two part-time interns were employed to help gather data from area farmers' markets through the summer.

The project design has facilitated a number of significant opportunities to strengthen relationships and deepen the local food conversation. Employment of interns, partnering with local resource agencies, guidance by a local advisory board, contracting with consultants and connection to complementary activities all have helped local food continue to be recognized as an active issue in our local communities.

Jan Libbey
Wright County Here's to Our Health
Phone: 641.495.6367
Email: libland@frontiernet.net

Mark Schutt
National Resource Conservation Service
Prairie Winds RC&D Resource Area
Phone: 641.923.3606
Email: mark.schutt@ia.usda.gov