Coalition members have become increasingly interested and supportive of targeting local food production and product development as contributors to the economic engine for the region.
Iowa Local Farm and Food Program prelimnary report for the 2012 Legislature is
now available. Download a copy and read it here.
2011 Legislative Priority for SWICO: Iowa Local Farm and Food Plan
A priority for SWICO members was having legislation passed that would include funds for statwide program to support local food development within the agriculture and natural resource budget. SWICO's legislative delegation met with legislator leadership expressing its advocacy of the program funds which eventually passed in the Senate but was removed by the House. Further discussion by SWICO members with area legislators secured the vote necessary to amend the bill to re-insert the language for the funds which passed.
Congratualtions to SWICO for this success amid rancourous budget debates!
So, where is it? The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Iowa State is the steward of the funds. Craig Chase, ISU Extension farm management specialist and interim marketing program leader at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, will coordinate the new program.
Below is the Press Release from the Leopold Center's Web site:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa has a new statewide program that aims to boost production, processing, distribution, marketing and consumption of Iowa-grown food.
The Local Food and Farm Initiative’s purpose is to increase profitability for farmers and the number of jobs in local foods. The program brings together the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“This initiative is designed to get more of the food we produce here in Iowa on the table while keeping more of the food dollar on the farm,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. “By utilizing the expertise of all three organizations it should help speed the development of this already growing part of Iowa agriculture.”
Craig Chase, ISU Extension farm management specialist and interim marketing program leader at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, will coordinate the new program.
John Lawrence, director of Extension to Agricultural and Natural Resources and associate dean in the College, said that Chase’s 27 years of experience in extension programs as well as co-leading ISU Extension’s new Regional /Local Food System Task Force makes him a good choice to be the Local Food and Farm Program Coordinator for Iowa.
“This initiative will help network the many activities already underway across Iowa and will leverage new investment in fruit and vegetable production expertise made by the College, ISU Extension and the Leopold Center,” Lawrence said.
The new program was created by the Iowa Legislature, which outlined broad goals and membership of a Local Food and Farm Program Council within IDALS that will advise the coordinator. First-year operating funds of $75,000 were included in the agriculture and natural resources budget bill signed by Governor Terry Branstad in July.
The initiative’s four goals are to:
- Promote the expansion of local food production, processing, distribution and marketing of Iowa food;
- Increase consumer and institutional spending on Iowa foods;
- Increase the profitability of farmers and businesses engaged in local food enterprises; and
- Increase the number of jobs associated with local foods.
The six-member Local Food and Farm program Council will include representatives from IDALS, Iowa Farmers Union, Iowa Farmers Market Association and three people appointed by the governor to represent Iowa resource conservation and development; a food processor, wholesaler or retailer; and a regional food system working group participant or expert in local food.
The Local Food and Farm Initiative follows recommendations outlined in an Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan prepared by the Leopold Center at the request of the Iowa Legislature. The plan calls for more coordination of programs at the state level and assistance in the areas of business training, loans, food processing, food safety and programs for beginning, minority and transitioning farmers.
Since April, Chase has been leading the Marketing and Food Systems Initiative at the Leopold Center. One of Chase’s duties is to work with 16 groups throughout the state that participate in the Regional Food Systems Working Group.
“Craig has been effectively coordinating these regional food system efforts to increase Iowa’s local food supply and use and is a well-known leader,” said Mark Honeyman, interim director at the Leopold Center. “These groups will be an important part of achieving some of the goals set out for the new state initiative.”
New investment at Iowa State University to improve the economic viability of regional food systems in the state has included hiring an extension commercial horticulture specialist for central and western Iowa and a new faculty member in horticulture to conduct research and extension on vegetable production.
Financial support for the new hires for the next three years was made possible by donor support to the Leopold Center. The two new hires join nine other ISU faculty and staff on campus and around the state who work in commercial fruit and vegetable production.
The Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development began the western Iowa Chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local and used the Rural Development Center to launch its membership campaign. The program was transferred to Southern Iowa RC&D when it secured funding for a local food systems coordinator in early 2011. You may contact:
Southern Iowa RC&D
Sharon Wasteny, local foods coordinator
500 East Taylor
Creston, Iowa 50801-4056
Phone: (641) 782-7058
FAX: (641) 782-6483
The Wallace Foundation, partner | member, began the cultivators in early 2000 which became the Southwest Iowa Farm to Food Initiative (SWIFFI). The project was transferred to Golden Hills RC&D in late 2000 and continues today as Southwest Iowa Farm to Fork Initiative. You may contact them at:
Golden Hills RC&D Office
Bahia Barry, coordinator
712 South Highway 6 and 59
Post Office Box 189
Oakland, Iowa 51560
Phone: (712) 482-3029
FAX: (712) 482-5590
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