Title: Community Based Food Systems
1Community Based Food Systems
2Two Parallel Food Systems
- 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
- Focus on Specialty crops, pastured pork, poultry,
and beef - Small property sizes
- Minimal equipment needs
- Work directly with consumers
3IndustrialFood 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
4Community 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.
5The 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
6What 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
7What This Could Look Like
What This Could Look Like
The farmer that wholesales
The farmer that sells direct
- 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 CSAs - Can scale-up to wholesaling after success in
direct markets
- 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
8Filling in the Gaps
- 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 cant find
enough vendors.
- 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!
9An Iowa Farmers 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.
10Iowa 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.
11Growing 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
12Filling in the Gaps
- Local food producers can work with their local
schools 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.
- 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.
13Farm 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.
14Filling in the Gaps
- It doesnt take much land to put in a garden it
doesnt 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.
- 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.
15Filling in the Gaps
- The local food coordinator, the local food policy
councils, the RCD, 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?
- 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.
16Scaling 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?
From Selling to Institutions An Iowa Farmers
Guide by Robert Luedeman Neil D Hamilton Drake
University Agricultural Law Center
17What 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.
18Filling in the Gaps
- 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.
- 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.
19Federally 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 its hard on the animals, sends dollars out
of state dollars that dont 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.
20Regulating Agencieswill they work with local
food producers in your communities?
- 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
21Filling in the Gaps
- 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.
- Understand that by working together we can
accomplish more. - Try to see the situation from everyones
perspective not just your own. - Be willing to compromise a little progress
today may lead to lots of progress tomorrow.
22How Does Fremont County Define a farmFederal,
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.
23To 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
24Possible Economic Impacts
- In SW Iowa, farmers 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
25Current Health Trends in Iowa
- Two-thirds of Iowans are overweight or obese.
- Iowas 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.
26Health 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.
27For 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 (RCD) 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 12442