ne iowa food & farm coalition
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at the Midwest Value Added Conference in Eau Claire, WI in January 2010.TRANSCRIPT
Investing in the future of Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard & Winneshiek
Counties
Photo of Karst Topography
Map of tributaries and water resources
The Problem:Producers observed a disconnect between downtown businesses and the ag community.
“Why don’t we grow our own food in the American Heartland?”
Why Local Food Fits
Total Ag Sales = $685 million63% of farm income is from livestock
Source: 2002 Ag Census
County FarmsAcres in farming
Average Farm Size
Allamakee 1083 80% 301Clayton 1601 87% 270Fayette 1344 89% 309Howard 891 89% 302Winneshiek 1501 86% 253State Avg 916 89% 350
•Sold $1.3 M of food directly to consumers.•2nd Allamakee: $329,000•7th Winneshiek: $282,000•29 apple orchards•47 vegetable farms
•Source: 2007 Ag Census
•$3.5 million in organic sales•10% of the certified organic farms in Iowa•26% of the total organic sales for the state
State Ranking: Organic Sales•1st Winneshiek•2nd Allamakee•6th Howard•8th Clayton
•Source: 2002 Ag Census
County Food at home
(million $)
Food away from home (million $)
Total (million $)
Allamakee 19 14 33Clayton 24 19 43Fayette 28 22 50Howard 13 10 23Winneshiek 25 19 44Total 109 (56%) 84 (44%) 193
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Dollars Spent on Food each YearTotal Income = $1.29 Billion
• Currently in NE Iowa, less than 1% of food is locally purchased.
• Shifting 25% of food spending to local sources would stimulate the local economy with 48 million dollars.
• By purchasing 25% of fruits and vegetables locally, it would create 204 jobs and $10.8 million in labor income and $91 million in total economic activity in the region.
Local food systems have local benefits
The Impact
1. Creation of a learning community
2. Developed a strategic plan
3. Facilitated institutional purchases of local foods• Local Food Breakfasts• Clarified policy of use of local foods• Farm to School• Local food directory and website• Producer workshops
4. Expanded the growing season
• Plantpeddler• Greenhouse tours• Certified kitchen• Investigating storage and processing
5. Engaging schools
• Comprehensive Farm to School• School gardens• Food service education• Teacher education• Cross-age teaching• Home Grown School
Lunch Week
6. Increased commitment to buying local
• Luther College – 35% by 2012• Sodexho discussions• Food safety education for producers
6. Increased commitment to buying local
# Reports Local food sales
Total sales
2007 1 52,620.00 52,620.002008 Previous 1 54,919.00
$67,719.00New 2 12,800.002009 Previous 3 149,605.77
$638,600.46New 10 488,944.69
Table 1. Sales of locally grown foods by producers in August 2008- June 09.
6. Increased commitment to buying local
Increased purchases by institutions from local producers in 2008-09.
# Institutions Local food purchases
Total purchases
2007 2 $94,021.00 $94,021.00
2008 Previous 3 $313,169.67$320,669.67New 3 $19,244.00
2009 Previous 3 $507,207.31$544,659.53New 12 $37,452.22
7. Leverage funding and expertise• Producer mini-grants• Funding from other organizations
Year # Grants Mini-Grant Amt
$ Leveraged
2009 12 3,262.50 49,792.00
2008 20 5,995.00 108,242.23
2007 14 2,940.00 134,723.60
POLICIES:• State fruit and vegetable policy for institutions• City Councils addressing sidewalk policies• Iowa Cattlemen's Association adopt new policy to
support local markets
Policy & System Change Will Drive Our Work
Investing in the future of Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard & Winneshiek
Counties
Working Together
www.iowafoodandfitness.org