Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
8/9/99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Diane Mayerfeld, Iowa State Sustainable Agriculture
Extension Program, (515) 294-0887
Barb Abbott, Extension Communication Systems, (515)
294-4843
Local Food and Hopeful Farming to be Showcased at the Iowa State Fair
AMES, Iowa -- Amid an uncertain farming future there is a branch of Iowa agriculture that holds hope. The local food movement has been gaining momentum in the past several years in Iowa and is providing farmers with new economic opportunities.
In local food systems, consumers keep their food dollars at home and know who grows their food. Local food projects include farmers' markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) operations, pick your-own farms, and on-farm retail shops. Farmers also have started producing food for Iowa-grown meals at hospitals, hotels, and universities.
A new display entitled "Food with the Farmer's Face" will showcase these Iowa local food projects at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. The display will be located on the 2nd level of the Agriculture Building at the fairgrounds. Farmers and local food system organizers from all over the state will staff the display each day of the fair.
Consumers interested in locally grown food can pick up a number of directories that list sources in their area. Farmers interested in growing for local markets can talk with local food systems pioneers and get resources for starting Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects and other local food systems efforts.
The "Food with the Farmer's Face" display is funded through the Iowa State University Sustainable Agriculture Extension Program and a grant from the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program.
For more information on local food systems contact Jan Libbey of the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture at (515) 495-6367. For information on Community Supported Agriculture, refer to "CSA- Local Food Systems for Iowa" (Pm-1692 - single copy free), "Iowa CSA Farms--Statewide list of CSA Farms, Producers, and Organizers 1999-2000" (Pm-1693 - single copy free) and "Iowa CSA Resource Guide for Producers and Organizers" (Pm-1694 - single copy $5). These are all available from your local county extension office or by calling ISU Extension Distribution at (515) 294-5247.
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Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.