Why is Iowa State University Extension and Outreach investing in local foods?

ISU Extension and Outreach’s mission is to help Iowans make informed decisions by applying relevant, needs‐driven resources, to create significant impact in our state.

Food systems are at the core of each of ISU’s four signature issues:

  • Food and the environment: supporting a safe, sustainable and
    Horticulture Field Day with Ajay Nair (https://www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab)
    Horticulture Field Day with Ajay Nair.

    affordable food supply (diversified farms, sustainable food production).

  • Health and well-being: helping Iowa become the healthiest state in the nation (nutrition education, reconnecting children with food, edible landscapes).
  • Economic development: growing businesses and strengthening communities (creating jobs, creating opportunities for beginning farmers, reconnecting consumers with producers).
  • K12 youth outreach: preparing our young people for the future (farm to school, engaging youth).

Learn more about local foods at Iowa State University in Learning about Local at Iowa State University, a resource guide to all things local from ISU, from classes and clubs to Extension work and everything in between.

Examples of extension-led local food projects:

ISU Extension and Outreach county staff are already leading in local foods by:

  • Helping initiate farm-to-school and farm-to-institution projects
  • Initiating and participating in developing a local or regional food hub
  • Providing educational programing such as workshops on seasonal menu planning and cooking
  • Creating a regional food identity with branding and marketing campaign
  • Supporting the creation of an incubator farm for beginning farmers
  • Increasing food access for low-income populations by initiating and supporting garden donation efforts
  • Planning “farm crawls” showcasing local producers

Why now?

Local food systems encourage job creation, economic development and stronger, healthier communities.

In 2012, 163,675 US farmers sold an estimated $6.1 billion in local foods, according to ERS estimates. The rising demand for local food is evident in Iowa, and is engaging an increasing number of people in the food system (producers, processors, food system practitioners, etc.). In 2013, a sample of Iowa farmers reported employing 110 people for every $1 million in sales, 34.1 of which were FTE jobs.

More recently, the Iowa Commercial Horticulture Food Crop Survey report, conducted by the Local Foods Program on behalf of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, showed that in 2015, Iowa’s commercial fruit and vegetable industry generated $48 million in direct sales and an additional $32 million in value-added commerce, for a total of more than $80 million in economic activity statewide.

Local foods production provides:

  • Opportunities for beginning farmers to start up with lower capital investment (smaller equipment and less acres are needed),
  • Promotes strong conservation practices that improve food security and resilience,
  • New markets and economic opportunities, and
  • Opportunities for children to connect to their food, and promote healthy eating habits.

ISU Extension and Outreach is continuously adapting to client demand, and local foods are a perfect fit.

Local food systems work allows ISU Extension and Outreach to engage with its clients in a different way. As a County Director once said, “Being involved with local foods makes Extension look sexy.”

ISU Extension and Outreach can act as facilitators, conveners, and partners to support communities in their food systems goals and objectives.

We must continue to function as educators, but we don’t simply impart data from on high. Instead, we need to become better partners. We need to come along side and facilitate helping communities discover the knowledge and talent and expertise that exists within their group. Then, we need to help them develop it.Brian Raison (2010) Educators or Facilitators, Clarifying Extension's Role in the Emerging Local Food Systems Movement

However, ISU Extension and Outreach cannot approach community engagement and local food systems development simply by facilitating. Data and verifiable knowledge are needed to develop sustainable systems that last. The local foods concept is relatively recent, and research is needed to provide communities with appropriate and relevant information.

Show more
Show less

If you have any comments or suggestions about how ISU Extension and Outreach can support food systems work, please let us know by filling out this form!