Latino Farmers and Local Multicultural Food and Marketing Systems

The purpose of this project is to collaboratively develop an immigrant farmer training and business incubation program integrated into a multicultural local/regional food system. We will build upon the entrepreneurial spirit and diverse foods sought by new immigrants to create entry points for Latino farmers in local food systems. We will work in two Iowa counties (Marshall and Crawford) to build a team of local partners to (a) recruit, train, and improve immigrants’ access to resources needed for farming; (b) plan and implement a local food system with a strong focus on the marketing links in the value chain; and c) prepare a guide that documents crucial aspects of the process for replicating the approach. Monitoring and evaluation, using the community capitals framework (CCF), will provide important inputs to the guide. Locally relevant indicators, including annual review of business success of new farms, will be identified and monitored through a participatory process involving immigrant residents and the project leadership team. Partners in the Marshalltown component thus far include Marshalltown Community College, Raíces, Growing Food and Profit (INCA), Marshall County Extension, and NCRCRD.


Contacts:
Jan L. Flora, Sociology
317D East Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-1070
floraj@iastate.edu
515-294-4295

Hannah Lewis
107 East Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
hlewis@iastate.edu
515-450-8126