schools ffi foods

Building a Local Food System

Part 3: Planning for Our Future

NE Iowa Food & Fitness InitiativeNE IA Food & Farm Coalition

March 2008

What is Local?

Local food is sold in smaller volumes across shorter distances.

Farmers Markets, CSAs, restaurants, grocery stores, institutions

Local may have several environmental and social attributes, but is not necessarily organic.

Local is farm direct to customer

What is Regional?

Regional food is sold in larger volumes across entire cities, across counties or states

Regional supermarkets, colleges, small restaurant chains, state government institutions

Regional may have several environmental and social attributes, but is not necessarily organic.

Regional is not direct to customer

ChallengesThe farmer is rarely just

a producerBusiness planningMarketingCustomer Service and

people skillsNetworkingLocal Character

InfrastructureLogisticsSeasonalityLegal Issues and

InsurancePolicy EnvironmentCooperation

The Benefits of Local Food

1. Food Quality

2. Economy

3. Community

4. Environment

Benefits of Local Food – Food QualitySafetyFreshnessFlavor/Variety

Benefits of Local Food -- EconomySpent $770 M

Source: Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center

Sold $752 Million/yr

(1999-2005) Loss = $19 M

per year

Buy $400 M in farm inputs

Buy $174 M of food from

outside area

Loss = $590 M per year or 78% value of farm

production

Benefits of Local Food -- Economy

Source: Ken Meter, Crossroads Resource Center

Farms would earn $16 M of added income

Capture 84% of the annual

farm production

loss

Buy 15% of food from local

farmers

Local food dollars cycle 2.3 times through the local economy.For grocers or restaurants, dollar cycles 1.7 times if focused

on local food vs. 1.3

• Iowa Produce Market Calculator

Benefits of Local Food to Communities

Farmers and customers at a farmers marketNeighbors in a community gardenNutritionists and chefs engaged in food security

educationFarmers, food brokers and wholesale retailers in

a delivery systemHospital purchasers, farmers and county officials

arranging institutional buying

Benefits of Local FoodTo Communities

Sense of place and identity

Food Awareness Food Security

Benefits of Local Food for Environment

17% of energy budget for food5-17 times less CO2

PackagingDiversity Source: Leopold Center

Consumer Local Food Strategies

1. Direct Consumption

2. Indirect Consumption

3. Education

4. Policy and Advocacy

Strategies

1.Direct Consumption

2.Indirect Consumption

3.Education

4.Policy and Advocacy

Iowa has over 180 farmers markets1600 vendors sold food to 135,000 people

325 jobs plus 140 secondary jobs$20 million in consumer reported sales

Local Food Strategies - Direct Consumption -- Farmers Markets

Strategies



3.Education


Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

$250-500 per share Weekly delivery or pick-up

Strategies



3.Education


Peake’s Orchard

Countryside Orchard

Village Creek Farm

Pop’s Produce

Farm Stands

Strategies



3.Education


Local Food Strategies - Direct Purchasing Farmers Markets

Strategies



3.Education


WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

Allamakee Not servedClayton Not servedFayette $2,286 redeemedHoward $1,118 redeemedWinneshiek $1,856 redeemed

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)1016 seniors served with redemption of $25,066 (2007)

1. Winneshiek FM

1. Oelwein FM2. West Union FM3. Rawson Berries

1. Cresco FM

1. Kirkpatrick Produce, Elkader2. Friedlein Produce 3. Swanson Orchard, Monona4. Strawberry Point FM5. Doc's Acres, Volga

Local Food Strategies– Indirect Consumption Schools

RestaurantsHotelsHospitalsConvention centersSenior care centersCafeteriasGrocery storesWholesalersFood brokers

Strategies



3.Education


Local Food Strategies– Indirect: Farm to School

Improved nutritional choicesNevada School District Pilot programLuther CollegeUNI Local Food ProjectISU Dining Services

Strategies



3.Education


Carry Local FoodOneota Community Coop (Decorah)Viroqua Food Coop (Wisconsin)People’s Food Coop (LaCrosse)

Local Food Strategies– Indirect: Farm to Retail/Wholesale

Strategies



3.Education


Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo, 30%Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community,

Waverly, 25%

Local Food Strategies – Indirect: Farm to Institution

Strategies

1.Direct Marketing

2.Indirect Marketing

3.Local Food Processing

4.Education


Year Number of Institutions

Local Food Expenditures

1998 3 $110,773

1999 3 $134,573

2000 5 $173,406

2001 8 $165,588

2002 7 $200,730

2003 15 $226,954

2004 23 $465,361

2005 21 $596,639

UNI Local Food Project –Black Hawk County

Community GardensHealth and NutritionConsumer Initiated Efforts

Local Food Strategies– Education

Strategies



3.Education


Community GardensEncourage food securityIn touch with their foodBreaks down isolationLess crime and vandalism


Strategies



3.Education


Health and Nutrition classesHospitals and clinicsISU ExtensionCommunity ActionOneota CoopFitness and wellness centers


Strategies



3.Education


Consumer Initiated EffortsBuy Fresh, Buy LocalBe a Local Hero (Massachusetts)

Grocery Store visitsOthers?


• Revolving credit programs• Business planning classes• Tax credit programs• Start-up funds• Shared capital and infrastructure• Local food quotas in food budgets

Local Food Strategies - Policy & Advocacy

Strategies



3.Education


What do you think?