Community Based Food Systems

1. Community Based Food Systems

2. Two Parallel Food Systems Industrial Community Based Focus on Specialty crops, pastured pork, poultry, and beef Small property sizes Minimal equipment needs Work directly with consumers • Focus on corn, soy and CAFO pork, chicken and beef • Large property sizes • Heavy machinery required • Work with only a few large corporations throughout the world

3. IndustrialFood Systems The top five industrial agricultural commodities in Iowa are: corn, hogs, soybeans, cattle, and dairy. The primary uses of these crops are to: 1. Feed livestock 2. Produce High Fructose Corn Syrup 3. Produce Hydrogenated Oil 4. Provide Affordable Poultry, Pork and Beef proteins The technologies and adaptations in commodity agriculture, whether you like it or not, have helped make more types of food products available at very low cost to people around the world. media.artdiamondblog.com/.../Ski-Iowa-small.jpg

4. Community Based Food Systems Produce whole food crops not typically intended for intensive processing. Distribution is usually done on a local scale; crops not intended to leave the community or region where they are produced. Products are sold directly to consumers or institutions, very few third party distribution partners.

5. *The Elements of a Local Food System • Healthy food, including fresh produce and leaner, grass based meats • Stewardship practiced particularly by farmers but also considering the distance food travels and other post harvest practices • Access to healthy food for people at all income levels, not just for well-to-do “foodies” • A livable wage for farm-workers and a decent livelihood for farmers *Anthony Flaccavento

6. What is a Value Chain? • A value chain is a supply chain that is designed to link supply with markets efficiently, but to do so while promoting certain core values • Equity and fair pay: for farmers, farm-workers, food producers, businesses and workers in the supply chain • Sustainability: beginning with more resilient farming practices, but also considering the total footprint or production, processing, shipping etc • Community Capacity: to better meet its own food needs and to build a more self-reliant economy, primarily through locally owned infrastructure and assets • Health and Food Access: for all, with a particular concern for people of limited means Anthony Flaccavento

7. What This Could Look Like What This Could Look Like Grows on a minimum of 2 acres Requires machinery to maintain efficiencies Grows 3-5 varieties of fruits or vegetables Invests in greenhouses and high-tunnels for season extension and year-round growing Markets to grocers, hospitals, schools, institutions Often participates in direct marketing as well The farmer that sell’s direct: The farmer that wholesale’s: • Grows on less than an acre • Typically is un-mechanized • Grows up to 50 different varieties of fruits and vegetables • Invests in season extending technologies such as cold-frames • Markets direct to individuals, farmers markets and CSA’s • Can scale-up to wholesaling after success in direct markets

8. Filling in the Gaps Farmers Markets What Sells Most vendors already grow and sell the standards: tomatoes, onions, zucchini, turnips, etc. New vendors should consider differentiated products: niche meats, heirloom varieties, baby vegetables, gourmet vegetables and FRUIT! • Every Farmers Market in the region needs more fruit, vegetable, and niche meat vendors. • There are many communities and organizations that want to start farmers markets but can’t find enough vendors.

9. An Iowa Farmer’s Market “Farmers market means a marketplace which seasonally operates principally as a common market for fresh fruits and vegetables on a retail basis for off-the-premises consumption” – Iowa Food Code 137F.1.

10. Iowa Farm EnterprisesPast & Present • In 1920 more than 75% of ALL Iowa farms raised: horses, cattle, chicken, corn, hogs, apples, hay, and oats! • Up to 62% of farms also raised: cherries, wheat, plums, grapes, ducks, geese, strawberry, pears, mules, sheep, timothy, peaches, bees, barley, raspberry, turkeys, watermelon, syrup sorghum, gooseberry, sweet corn, apricots, tomatoes, cabbage, popcorn, AND currants! • In 2002 the primary crops grown were: corn, soybeans, hay, cattle, horses, hogs, and chickens. • Roughly 1% of Iowa farms raised oats, sheep, goats, duck, and geese. • Other crops were not grown in significant enough amounts to track.

11. Growing What We Eat • Apples • Apricots • Asparagus • Beans (Snap) • Blackberries • Blueberries • Broccoli • Cabbage • Cantaloupes • Carrots • Cauliflower • Cherries • Cucumbers • Eggplant • Garlic • Grapes • Greens/Collards/Lettuce (Head) • Lettuce (Leaf) • Nectarines • Okra • Onions • Peaches • Pears • Peppers (Bell) • Plums • Potatoes (Sweet) • Potatoes (all the others) • Pumpkins • Radishes • Raspberries • Spinach • Squash • Strawberries • Sweet Corn • Tomatoes • Watermelons

12. Filling in the Gaps Farm to School Farm to Institution Farmers and ranchers can sell product directly to hospitals, care facilities, restaurants, grocery stores, correctional facilities, etc. Be willing to work with their requirements to create a strong professional relationship. • Local food producers can work with their local school’s food service program to help improve access to fresh and nutritious food in our community schools. From kindergarten through college – campuses are embracing local food.

13. Farm to School in Iowa In 2007, Iowa lawmakers passed Farm to School legislation to establish a program that would link elementary, secondary, public and non-public schools with Iowa farmers; provide schools with fresh and minimally processed Iowa grown food for inclusion in school meals and snacks; and to encourage children to develop healthy eating habits and provide them with hands-on learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening and composting programs. The Farm to School Program is coordinated by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education and a seven-member Farm to School Council. The Iowa Farm to School Program will reach out to communities to establish strong partnerships.

14. Filling in the Gaps Land Lot’s of Land For people that want to acquire ten or more acres of land: there are programs that can offer guaranteed loans and business development assistance. We have a strong coalition that can help new or expanding food producers access land. • It doesn’t take much land to put in a garden – it doesn’t take too big a garden to feed your family or sell at a farmers market. • Western Iowa Development Association has developed a land-bank of small (1/10th acre and up) parcels available for rent/lease in the area; specifically to local food producers. • We are working to create community gardens so that those without land can use public land to grow food.

15. Filling in the Gaps Regulations & Policy Food Safety Food Safety should be one of our top priorities as we work to create an economically successful local food system. Developing strong standards in local food production will protect all of us. Local food system champions should be prepared to help consumers, purchasers, and producers understand what they can do to ensure the safety of the food system. • The local food coordinator, the local food policy councils, the RC&D, and many state & local agencies are available and willing to help local food producers navigate the web of policies, inspections, regulations, rules, and issues that can impact production. • How could forming a local food policy council help your communities?

16. Scaling Up Beyond Farmers Markets The following checklist is only a few of things a farmer or rancher needs to think about before starting a new business or expanding the scope of an existing one. CAN YOU PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEET THESE NEEDS? 1. Business plan: Have you developed a business plan that is an operating manual for your business? 2. Business entities: Have you selected the business entity that best fits your business plan? 3. Insurance: Have you reviewed your insurance coverage for your business recently and made sure you have adequate coverage? 4. Food safety: Have you taken the time to determine how food safety rules fit into your present and future business plan? 5. Equipment and packaging: Have you reviewed your equipment and packaging materials to make sure they are food grade? 6. Finance: Have you reviewed your business plan with your banker and lined up adequate financing? 7. Marketing plan: Have you identified your prospective customers and determined how to market to them? 8. Equipment plan: Have you priced and located the type of equipment you will need to conduct your business? 9. Facility plan: Have you determined what facility you will use and if you will need a new or different facility? From Selling to Institutions: An Iowa Farmer’s Guide by Robert Luedeman & Neil D Hamilton Drake University Agricultural Law Center

17. What Can a Local Food Working Group Do? • Identify all existing local food producers. • Identify all existing local food value chains. • Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the Fremont County Local Food System. • Develop and implement actionable plans to build on strengths, encourage opportunities, overcome weaknesses and alleviate threats. • Work with policy makers within the county to engender an environment that supports local food production and consumption.

18. Filling in the Gaps Local Lockers Federal Inspection Unfortunately without Federal inspection local niche meat producers who want to sell to: restaurants, institutions (schools, hospitals, care facilities, jails, etc) or anywhere across state lines, haul their livestock out of state for processing. • Currently we are incredibly lucky to have small, local meat and poultry lockers in SW Iowa. • Most regions in Iowa have seen their local lockers close.

19. Federally Inspected Processing = Economic Development • Current state inspection in Iowa is an EXACT replica of Federal Inspection. There is no regulatory difference. Currently all lockers in SW Iowa are state inspected. • Hauling livestock has negative impact in many ways: it’s hard on the animals, sends dollars out of state – dollars that don’t come back, and is a time consuming activity for producers. • Local processing with federal inspection would keep more of our hard earned money in our communities, shorten distances animals have to be hauled for processing, and create more markets for local, niche meat and poultry products.

20. Regulating Agencieswill they work with local food producers in your communities? For Farmers Markets For Wholesale Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals County & City Departments of Public Health Iowa Food code Iowa Department of Agriculture and land Stewardship FDA Food Safety Inspection Service • Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals • County & City Departments of Public Health • Iowa Food code • Iowa Department of Agriculture and land Stewardship • FDA • Food Safety Inspection Service

21. Filling in the Gaps What Counties Can Do What We All Can Do Understand that by working together we can accomplish more. Try to see the situation from everyone’s perspective – not just your own. Be willing to compromise – a little progress today may lead to lots of progress tomorrow. • Asses what planning and zoning regulations impact local food production • Meet with local food producers to find common ground • Amend policy to ensure small farmers and ranchers are getting the support they need to fully develop their operations.

22. How Does Fremont County Define a “farm”Federal, State, & Local Policy Definitions of “A Farm” • The US Census defines a farm as any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold during the census year. • Iowa state code defines a farm as ten acres or more of land in agricultural use. • The Pottawattamie County Assessor defines a farm as 15 or more acres. (this varies from county to county) • The Pottawattamie County Department of Planning and Zoning defines a farm as 35 acres. (this also varies from county to county) • USDA defines a farm by US Census standards for statistical purposes only – individual USDA programs have their own standards: • The Farm Service Agency (of the USDA) defines a farm as 10 acres or more. • The Cass County Auditor defines a farm as ten acres or more of land in agricultural use. • Boone County defines a farm as an enterprise which is recognized in the community as a farm rather than a rural residence. 

23. To Put Food Production Into Perspective • The average county in Iowa contains 240,300 acres of harvested cropland • In order to produce the 22 typical fruits and vegetables that Iowans consume - 30,000 acres would be needed STATE-WIDE. • Current seasonal production would require just over 12,000 acres. This 12,325 acres represents just 5.1% of the cropland in just one county! If this production were distributed across the entire state this would require just 123 acres per county – slightly less than 1/5th of a square mile. Food production has different requirements than corn and soy production – typically counties have this much or more vacant land that is suitable to use for food production. From: The Economic Impact of Fruit & Vegetable Production is SW Iowa Considering Local & Nearby Metropolitan Markets by: David Swenson 2009

24. Possible Economic Impacts: In SW Iowa, farmer’s produce $792 Million in food commodities per year, yet spend $887 Million to raise them. Losing an average of $95 million in production costs each year. Farmers also spend an estimated $400 million buying inputs sourced from outside the region. Residents of SW Iowa* spend more than $370 Million on food annually. More than 90% is imported from other states and countries. Iowans spent $7 Billion on food in 2006 The 2006 Iowa corn crop was worth $4 Billion Proven agricultural techniques show it is possible to earn up to $50,000 per acre using Small Plot Intensive Techniques (www.spinfarming.com) Iowans eat 25.9 million pounds of carrots each year and only 5% of these are grown in Iowa. Demand for local, sustainable, humanely-raised, fair-trade food production has increased – growing about 20% per year *Cass, Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, & Shelby Counties Data from Crossroads Resource Center & Ken Meter 2006 & A Vision for “Good Food” for Iowa by Angie Tagtow

25. Current Health Trends in Iowa: Two-thirds of Iowans are overweight or obese. Iowa’s direct costs attributed to obesity are estimated to be more than $783 million. Since 1996 there has been more than a 60% increase in the rate of diabetes in Iowa. Researchers have predicted that because of the dramatic rise in obesity and related chronic diseases, especially among young people, Iowans may experience a decline in life expectancy by as much as five years in the next few decades. Our children may have shorter life spans than their parents.

26. Health Benefits of Community Based Food Systems: As access to locally-grown food increases, food security improves, more fruits and vegetables are consumed and diet related chronic diseases decline. Food is a basic human need and the quality and quantity of food available is essential to our good health. Diverse foods are needed to meet the food, nutrition, and health needs of all Iowa eaters. Diversifying farm production helps meet the demand and enables a producer to spread out their production and level of risk. Local food enable Iowans to reconnect with where their food comes from. We have a strong cultural and historical connection to raising our own food. Our ancestors that settled this state did so primarily as self-sufficient farmers and ranchers.

27. For More Information about Community Based Food System Development in Southwest Iowa: Southwest Iowa Food & Farm Initiative (SWIFFI): Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie, Pottawattamie, Cass, Mills, Montgomery, Fremont, and Page Counties www.swiffi.org Local Food Coordinator: Bahia Barry At Golden Hills Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) 712-482-3029 Western Iowa Development Association (WIDA) – Donna Peters 712-343-6368

28. "I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America." --Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787. Papers 12:442