Iowa-raised produce such as meat, eggs, fruit, and other products could see in increase in sales if a new statewide plan is put in place. The Iowa Local Food and Farm Plan was submitted to the Iowa Legislature by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
The plan recommends creation of a state-level food and farm program, a program to train producers and local businesses, collecting data to measure growth of local food sales, and changes to benefit local businesses. The program would be supported by a voluntary Local Food and Farm Program Fund.
Information for the plan came together through numerous workshops, surveys, and listening sessions. Over a thousand people across Iowa had various kinds of input on the plan. The plan is projected to increase sales of local products which currently make up only 14% of the total that is spent on food in Iowa. In addition to the plan itself, an unanticipated benefit has been the contacts built between people in the local food industry who collaborated to produce the plan.
