Executive  Summary  

Southeast   Iowa  Food  Hub  (SEIFH)  based  in  Fairf ield,   Iowa    Overview:  The  Southeast  Iowa  Food  Hub,  a  non-­‐profit  service  organization  founded  November,  2014  in  Fairfield,  IA.  Designed  to  build  capacity  in  the  local  organic  food  system.  It  coordinates  regional  farm  production,  aggregation,  and  distribution  of  local  foods  grown  using  organic  practices.      Purpose  of  the  Organization:  To  encourage  the  production,  efficient  marketing,  and  distribution  of  foods  that  accommodate  the  preferences  of  local  consumers  who  are  seeking  wholesome,  nutritious  foods  produced  in  sustainable  ways.      Operations:  Developing    infrastructure  and  supporting  network  for  consumers  and  farmers  to  nurture  mutually-­‐beneficial  relationships  that  strengthen  and  diversify  the  local  economy,  strengthen  the  local  community,  and  increase  the  ecological,  social,  and  economic  integrity  of  the  food  system.      Target  Market:    Marketing  from  a  regional  aggregation  Hub  to  regional  institutions  will  give  farmers  an  easier,  less  costly  path  to  the  food  marketplace.  The  Food  Hub  will  coordinate  production  among  organic  growers  so  that  the  buyers’  needs  are  met  and  producers  consistently  grow  products  that  can  be  sold.      Market  Size:    Jefferson  County  is  building  markets  in  the  surrounding  seven  counties  with  a  total  population  of  885,000.  Within  these  counties,  there  are  20  hospital  and  health  centers,  and  10  universities  and  colleges.  Within  Fairfield,  there  are  5  large  retail  natural  food  grocers,  30  restaurants,  and  the  potential  for  200  Community  Supported  Agriculture  (CSA)  shares.        Business  Model:    Model  includes  cost  reduction  and  community  services  through  shared  transportation,  group  purchases  of  farm  supplies,  use  of  the  federal  Experience  Works  Program  for  non-­‐management  staffing  needs,  and  use  of  volunteers.      Key  Resources:  Our  most  significant  resource  are  our  fourteen    community  leaders  ,  who  are  volunteering  their  time  .    Key  to  this  undertaking  is  our  director’s  experience  in  managing  a  10-­‐acre  organic  farm  with  3  acres  in  greenhouse  production.  Our  director  comes  with  5  years  of  regional  marketing  relationships  with  growers  and  retailers,  including  large  food  retailers  such  as  Whole  Foods,  Hy-­‐Vee  Corporate,  and  Roundy’s.  Other  regional  supporters  and  resources  are  the  Leopold  Center  in  Ames,  the  Iowa  Association  of  Food  Hubs,  regional  and  local  Hy-­‐Vee  store  managers,  regional  health-­‐food  coop  managers,  Wapello  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  

 Sunnybrook  Assisted  Living,  Maharishi  University  of  Management  (MUM),  Everybody’s  Whole  Foods  Market,  the  Golden  Dome  Market  and  the  Fairfield  Farmers  Market.  The  SEIFH  has  agreements  with  7  organic  growers  and  15  buyers  so  far  and  will  continue  to  add  both  throughout  season  one.      Management  Team:  Coordination  of  production  (from  farmers)  and  marketing  (to  retail  grocers,  restaurants,  and  institutions),  as  well  as  other  operations,  will  be  managed  by  the  Food  Hub  Director,  Barbara  Stone.  Oversight  for  the  SE  Iowa  Food  Hub    Program  is  provided  by    the  host  organization,  The  Sustainable  Living  Coalition  (SLC).    SEIFH  is  Unique:  Based  on  our  project’s  goal  of  expanding  local  organic  acreage  and  markets  by  educating  growers  and  consumers  about  the  importance  of  sustainable  organic  practices,  we  are  creating  a  model  to  encourage  local  farmers  to  transition  to  sustainable  practices  and  to  educate  young  farmers  in  organic  methods.  Given  the  above,  the  long-­‐term  gain  includes  increased  food  security  in  the  face  of  droughts  and  extreme  weather  patterns  across  the  country.