Agri News, M03-21-06
Vision includes stronger local farm and food economy
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
Agri News staff writer
CALMAR, Iowa -- Their vision is to create a stronger local farm and food
economy.
Farmers, food processors, retailers and economic developers in Howard,
Winnshiek and Allamakee counties shared their vision at recent meetings in
Cresco, Calmar and Waukon.
Spearheaded by Iowa State University Extension, the group discussed its
strategic plan and how growing, processing and selling food locally would keep
more dollars in the region.
Its goals are to provide opportunity for existing and new producers to diversify,
explore the development of regional processing and storage facilities to add
value to all area ag products and increase the sale and consumption of locally
grown food.
Ranum said the group will finalize its plan, present it to the Leopold Center for
Sustainable Agriculture and then determine the next step.
Alan Peake, who operates an apple orchard near Waukon, said producers need
to educate consumers that they're supporting sustainable production when they
buy local food. The cheapest price isn't always sustainable.
Local food supporters need to advertise the benefits of community, said Joe
Organist of West Union.
"If we want anything to happen, we have to sell community," Organist said. "Food
security is based on community.''
Tom Hansen, a Decorah farmer, said the Iowa Legislature has to change its core
economic focus. Instead of supporting large livestock confinements and hightech industries, legislators need to look at policies supporting sustainable family
farms.
Liz Rog, co-manager of Oneota Food Co-op in Decorah, said people who shop at
her store are interested in locally produced foods.
Bob Norton of Bluffton sees potential for using the Internet to develop a local
food system. Through networking farmers could cooperate in transportation of
goods.
Jeremy Peake and his wife, Jodi, milk cows and raise chickens and hogs on their
farm near Waukon. The chickens and hogs are marketed through GROWN
Locally, a cooperative that sells local foods to consumers, institutions, cafes and
grocery stores. Hogs are also sold to Niman Ranch.
"Farmers need to try something different on a small scale,'' Jeremy Peake said.
"If it works, get a little bigger. If it doesn't work, try something else.''
He tried raising vegetables, but that didn't work. He had more success with
chickens and hogs.
Loren Kriener, a Fort Atkinson cattle producer, likes the idea of building a local
food system that would keep the profits at home. He sells cattle into Illinois and
transportation costs are high.