FOOD HUBS A Snapshot of the IOWA EXPERIENCE

FOOD HUBS: A Snapshot of the IOWA EXPERIENCE Jan Libbey, Healthy Harvest of North Iowa & Dr. Mark Edelman, ISU Community Vitality Center

Food Hub Types 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Location Auctions & Farmers Markets Internet Markets & Central Delivery Sites Non-profit Market Distribution Models Profit-driven Wholesale & Retail Networks Producer-driven Coops/LLCs Retail Local Food Grocery Coops Shared-Kitchen Facility Networks Year-Round City Markets & Food Incubators

Hub Types • Location sponsored markets • Cedar Valley Produce Auction • Local Farmers Markets

20 Farmers Marke ts across North Iowa Nationwide, Iowa ranks top in number of farmers markets per capita 2005 study – Iowa farmers markets generate an estimated $20. 8 million in sales and more than 325 jobs for the Iowa economy.

Hub Types Internet Based Markets Market Maker (ISUE Ag. MRC) With Central Delivery Sites Iowa Food Coop Iowa Valley Food Coop

Connecting willing markets and quality sources of food from farm and fisheries to fork in Iowa.

4 Delivery sites DM WDM Ankeny Ames The essential business of the IFC is to provide a web-based marketplace of Iowa-grown food for willing buyers and sellers. no time At does the cooperative take title to any of the products. We have no inventory. The products that go through our distribution system are owned by our producer members, who then sell these products directly to our consumer members

Cedar Rapids, IA IVFC acts as a facilitator, providing a marketplace for all types of local producers, processing orders and payments, and facilitating delivery to consumer members.

Hub Types • Non-profit driven model • Red Tomato • Northern Iowa Food & Farm Partnership

Map of Iowa’s Regional Food System Working Groups

Cedar Falls • printed an online Buy Fresh, Buy Local directory • marketing resource to local growers, food businesses, and institutions • Promoting farmers markets • organizing farm tours • sponsoring regional food festivals and related events.

Hub Types • Profit-driven, Wholesale/Retail Local Food Grocery Networks (Hy. Vee, Fareway, Dahls) Local Food Restaurant Networks (Hawkeye Food Service/ Local Harvest Supply)

Coralville Hawk eye Fo od 3 rd ge nerati service Dis tr o whole sale d n, family- o ibution, Inc is. w over $ 200 m tribution b ned, u i large Midw llion in ann siness with est ua four w areho region faci lized sales. litated uses • use of the facilities at Hawkeye’s auxiliary warehouse 14, 000 square feet. • Local Harvest Supply deliveries would be made with Hawkeye Foodservice trucks on routes already established • For the grower, we offer pick up service in a refrigerated truck, marketing tools, affordable packaging an opportunity to extend market reach.

Hub Types • Producer-driven Coops/LLCs/Networks GROWN Locally Scenic Valley Producers

30 producers A cooperative of small, local farms in Northeast Iowa dedicated to providing fresh, high quality foods to local food service institutions. Decorah

Hub Types • Retail Grocery Store Coops Wheatsfield Grocery Coop (Ames) New Pioneer Food Coop (Iowa City) Fresh Connections Coop, Algona Tallgrass Grocery Coop (W. Des Moines) Dubuque Food Coop Stratford Food Center (Coop) Oneota Food Coop, Decorah Grinnell Local Foods Coop

Dubuque Open ing Fa ll 201 100% 2! mem ber-ow full se ned rvice g rocery local, organ store ic, and natur al Located in Historic Millwork District … resurrecting the forgotten strategy that connects people, planet, and profit in a mixed-use neighborhood.

Decorah cooperatively-owned grocery store specializing in organic, local, and sustainably produced products since 1974. Our Focus: Good Food, Sustainable Food The vast majority of the food we sell is either locally grown, organic, or fair trade.

Grinnell Local Foods Coop • monthly orders • produce, grains, honey, herbs, certified Organic products and more! • pick up behind Main Hall on the southeast corner of campus.

Hub Types • Shared-Kitchen Incubator Networks Cedar Rapids Area (IFPC) Ames Area (IFPC) Fairfield: Food Innovation Center Concept

Hub Types • Year-Round City Markets & Incubators New. Bo City Market, Cedar Rapids Ottumwa City Market Quad Cities Market Hub

Cedar Rapids The mission of the New. Bo City Market includes: Jobs: Create new entrepreneurial job opportunities for displaced workers and others through the leasing of low-cost stalls Economic Development: Stimulate small business development and economic activity in a flood impacted area Health: Provide an easily accessible venue to obtain and learn about healthy food Quality of Life: Provide a central meeting place for residents of Cedar Rapids and visitors to meet, greet, and of course, eat The New. Bo City Market will help transform and secure the vitality of New Bohemia neighborhood, ravaged from the flood of 2008.

Key take away points: Diverse strategies - 8 Types with over 2 dozen entities plus farmers markets Different structures for project specific needs & goals Coops that grew out of buying club in the 70’s Coop committed to serving 40 mile radius Use of electronic medium to bridge much large distances Repossessing buildings and positioning food systems prominently as strategy of community revitalization It’s not ONE answer, but the collective lessons offered across the various models.