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
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 AgMRC)
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 and 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
(HyVee, Fareway, Dahls)
Local Food Restaurant Networks
(Hawkeye Food Service/
Local Harvest Supply)
Coralville
•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
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
NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids
Ottumwa City Market
Quad Cities Market Hub
Cedar Rapids
The mission of the NewBo 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 NewBo 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.