Local Economy
Buy
Fresh Buy Local
Buy Fresh Buy Local is a comprehensive marketing program for farmers selling directly to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores and other institutions. Nationally the program is overseen by FoodRoutes Network and has 15 participating state organizations. In Iowa, Buy Fresh Buy Local is organized by Practical Farmers of Iowa in collaboration with a variety of partner organizations. The purpose of the program is:
Edible Iowa River Valley
Edible Iowa River Valley is a seasonal magazine that celebrates the abundance of Eastern Iowa, from the bluffs of Decorah to the Des Moines metro area, and from our Mississippi river towns to our fertile farms and fields. We showcase the family farmers, chefs, food artisans, farmers' market vendors and other food-related businesses for their dedication to using the highest quality, seasonal, locally grown products.
If you love food that is raised with care, prepared with passion, and served with love, then you'll love the people, places and stories of Edible Iowa River Valley.
Contact Information:
22 Riverview Drive NE
Iowa City, IA 52240-7973
(319) 400-2526
E-mail: info@edibleiowarivervalley.com
www.edibleiowarivervalley.com
Farm Fresh Direct
If you want to support local, Iowa producers, here's another resource to use for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, dairy and eggs, and produce. Go to: www.iowacci.org, first, click on "Farming and the Environment," then click on "Food from Family Farms."
Iowa Family Farm Meats Directory
Here is a statewide listing, by county, of meat providers.
www.agriculture.state.ia.us/list1.html
Iowa Farmers Markets
Here is the link to find a farmers market near you!
www.agriculture.state.ia.us/farmermarket.asp
Iowa Wine Trail
Visit The Iowa Wine Trail by traversing the upper Mississippi Valley wine region at Lisbon, Baldwin, Anamosa, Bankston, Marquette, Decorah and West Branch. Sample well-crafted wines and ciders in the comfort of excellent and diverse tasting rooms among our heritage farms and vineyards, hilltop chateau, nestled river village, and Italian bistro.
Wineries can be visited almost daily and semi-annual Special Events shouldn’t be missed. At each site a winemaker is likely nearby to answer questions about growing wine using the region’s special varietals. Visitors can view operations, enjoy the grounds, and sample award winning wines and sparkling ciders carrying that special Iowa taste.
Enjoy the region’s designated scenic byways, alpine hills, and cold water streams full of trout. This exquisite hill country was spared recent glaciers thus leaving soils, slopes, caves and aquifers well-suited for irrigation, drainage, circulation, and sun to produce the best grapes.
The area is adorned with landscapes as selected by Artist of the Heartland, Grant Wood. We know you would enjoy the hospitality of the trail’s bed & breakfast partners, so consider staying the weekend.
www.iowawinetrail.com
Johnson County Local Food Alliance
Who we are: JCLFA is a passionate food community of farmers, chefs, food stores, and people like you who are all committed to making local, healthy and fresh food more widely available (and eaten!) where we live.
What we do: JCLFA helps connect farmers to the people and businesses that want to buy fresh, local food. To accomplish this, we do several things. First, we bring farmers, consumers, food buyers and support organizations together to work cooperatively. We facilitate communication and commerce through meetings, programs (see below) and publications. To help us reach our goals toward a vibrant local food system and thriving communities, all of our members take a pledge to uphold the highest standards of:
Leah Wilson
(319) 621-3009
E-mail: leah.wilson@netzero.com
www.jclfa.org
Local Foods Connection
Local Foods Connection purchases produce, bread, eggs, meat and other products from local earth-friendly farms and donates these goods to families who cannot afford such nutritious, tasty and fresh food. We provide opportunities for families to visit a farm and to learn healthy cooking methods. With your support, we assist families in need of a helping hand, strengthen our local foods network and empower the farmers who live and work just outside of your neighborhood.
Contact Information:
Laura Dowd
P.O. Box 2821
Iowa City, IA 52244-2821
(319) 338-2010
E-mail: localfoodsconnection@yahoo.com
www.localfoodsconnection.org
Sustainable Agriculture
By clicking on this link you will see a sample of organizations involved in some aspect of sustainable agriculture in Iowa. This list is not comprehensive but may serve as a starting point for further inquiries.
extension.agron.iastate.edu/sustag/contacts/contactsM.html
Women, Food & Agriculture Network
"To link and empower women to build food systems and communities that are healthy, just and sustainable, and that promote environmental integrity."
Contact Information:
59624 Chicago Road
Atlantic, IA 50022-9619
(712) 243-3264
www.wfan.org/
Buy Fresh Buy Local is a comprehensive marketing program for farmers selling directly to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores and other institutions. Nationally the program is overseen by FoodRoutes Network and has 15 participating state organizations. In Iowa, Buy Fresh Buy Local is organized by Practical Farmers of Iowa in collaboration with a variety of partner organizations. The purpose of the program is:
- To increase market access, sales volume, net income and long-term stability of direct marketing farmers;
- To raise awareness among Iowans of our local treasures: farmers markets, family farms and orchards, local meat lockers, restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses that serve or sell locally grown farm products;
- To
stimulate the social and economic vitality of
Iowa through strengthening the viability of
independent farmers and businesses.
- Buy local. Look for local and sustainable labels when you shop, and ask your grocer to carry these foods.
- Eat at restaurants that serve local foods. Question the menu. Ask where your food comes from, and ask if the restaurant supports the Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign.
- Invest in local "value-added" firms. Southeast Minnesota is now forming a regional investment fund, the Hiawatha Fund. Iowans are making similar plans.
- Convince your school, hospital, nursing home and local government to buy local. Support local foods planning through regional and state food councils.
- Support a 2007
"food" bill in Congress (rather than a
"farm"
bill) that will direct federal
investments toward regional food networks and
better conservation
practices.
Edible Iowa River Valley
Edible Iowa River Valley is a seasonal magazine that celebrates the abundance of Eastern Iowa, from the bluffs of Decorah to the Des Moines metro area, and from our Mississippi river towns to our fertile farms and fields. We showcase the family farmers, chefs, food artisans, farmers' market vendors and other food-related businesses for their dedication to using the highest quality, seasonal, locally grown products.
If you love food that is raised with care, prepared with passion, and served with love, then you'll love the people, places and stories of Edible Iowa River Valley.
Contact Information:
22 Riverview Drive NE
Iowa City, IA 52240-7973
(319) 400-2526
E-mail: info@edibleiowarivervalley.com
www.edibleiowarivervalley.com
Farm Fresh Direct
If you want to support local, Iowa producers, here's another resource to use for beef, pork, lamb, poultry, dairy and eggs, and produce. Go to: www.iowacci.org, first, click on "Farming and the Environment," then click on "Food from Family Farms."
Iowa Family Farm Meats Directory
Here is a statewide listing, by county, of meat providers.
www.agriculture.state.ia.us/list1.html
Iowa Farmers Markets
Here is the link to find a farmers market near you!
www.agriculture.state.ia.us/farmermarket.asp
Iowa Wine Trail
Visit The Iowa Wine Trail by traversing the upper Mississippi Valley wine region at Lisbon, Baldwin, Anamosa, Bankston, Marquette, Decorah and West Branch. Sample well-crafted wines and ciders in the comfort of excellent and diverse tasting rooms among our heritage farms and vineyards, hilltop chateau, nestled river village, and Italian bistro.
Wineries can be visited almost daily and semi-annual Special Events shouldn’t be missed. At each site a winemaker is likely nearby to answer questions about growing wine using the region’s special varietals. Visitors can view operations, enjoy the grounds, and sample award winning wines and sparkling ciders carrying that special Iowa taste.
Enjoy the region’s designated scenic byways, alpine hills, and cold water streams full of trout. This exquisite hill country was spared recent glaciers thus leaving soils, slopes, caves and aquifers well-suited for irrigation, drainage, circulation, and sun to produce the best grapes.
The area is adorned with landscapes as selected by Artist of the Heartland, Grant Wood. We know you would enjoy the hospitality of the trail’s bed & breakfast partners, so consider staying the weekend.
www.iowawinetrail.com
Johnson County Local Food Alliance
Who we are: JCLFA is a passionate food community of farmers, chefs, food stores, and people like you who are all committed to making local, healthy and fresh food more widely available (and eaten!) where we live.
What we do: JCLFA helps connect farmers to the people and businesses that want to buy fresh, local food. To accomplish this, we do several things. First, we bring farmers, consumers, food buyers and support organizations together to work cooperatively. We facilitate communication and commerce through meetings, programs (see below) and publications. To help us reach our goals toward a vibrant local food system and thriving communities, all of our members take a pledge to uphold the highest standards of:
• Market
Cooperation • Professionalism
• Caring for the Earth •
• Good Animal Husbandry • Caring for
Community •
Leah Wilson
(319) 621-3009
E-mail: leah.wilson@netzero.com
www.jclfa.org
Local Foods Connection
Local Foods Connection purchases produce, bread, eggs, meat and other products from local earth-friendly farms and donates these goods to families who cannot afford such nutritious, tasty and fresh food. We provide opportunities for families to visit a farm and to learn healthy cooking methods. With your support, we assist families in need of a helping hand, strengthen our local foods network and empower the farmers who live and work just outside of your neighborhood.
Contact Information:
Laura Dowd
P.O. Box 2821
Iowa City, IA 52244-2821
(319) 338-2010
E-mail: localfoodsconnection@yahoo.com
www.localfoodsconnection.org
Sustainable Agriculture
By clicking on this link you will see a sample of organizations involved in some aspect of sustainable agriculture in Iowa. This list is not comprehensive but may serve as a starting point for further inquiries.
extension.agron.iastate.edu/sustag/contacts/contactsM.html
Women, Food & Agriculture Network
"To link and empower women to build food systems and communities that are healthy, just and sustainable, and that promote environmental integrity."
Contact Information:
59624 Chicago Road
Atlantic, IA 50022-9619
(712) 243-3264
www.wfan.org/