Value Chain Development
The Value Chain Development Initiative works to connect the dots between producers and consumers of local food in Iowa; from the farm gate to the consumer’s plate. We work with partners across the state to lead advocacy and facilitate partnerships, design sustainable systems through market matchmaking and technical assistance.
A thriving food value chain in Iowa is one where everyone has access to the local food they want and farmers get a fair price so they can keep feeding our communities. The LFPA is one of the projects driving this local food value chain initiative.
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The Iowa RFSI program is building resilience in the middle of the food supply chain by developing and improving markets for Iowa small farms and food businesses, investing in the development of Iowa local food processing, distribution, and aggregation infrastructure, and protecting fair prices, fair wages, and new and safe job opportunities.
Food Hub Managers Working Group
The Food Hub Managers Working Group brings actively engaged food hub managers together in quarterly meetings, addresses current operating and start‐up challenges and emerging needs for food hub businesses and determines the long term role of a statewide food hub manager’s network in leveraging new funds, creating new opportunities and new partners, and supporting the sustainability of food hubs in Iowa.
Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program is increasing access to local food and improving supply chain resiliency through partnerships with local producers and underserved communities.
Kitchen Connect is a statewide initiative to inspire a new food entrepreneur culture in Iowa. Through comprehensive outreach to regulators, buyers, educators, and technical assistance providers, the project empowers and informs start-up food businesses.
The Iowa Local Food for Schools Program is increasing access to local food in K-12 schools and improve supply chain resiliency through partnerships with local producers, food hubs and school districts.
Our Partnerships for Local Agriculture and Nutrition Transformation in Schools (PLANTS) Grant program is focused on providing technical assistance to school nutrition directors and farmers to continue fostering relationships within the food system across the state. Due to a generous grant from the Chef Ann Foundation and the USDA and guidance from Kitchen Sync Strategies, Center for Nutrition and Health Impact, and the National Farm to School Network, we're partnering with Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for this pilot program to expand scratch cooking with local food in Iowa schools.