Northeast Iowa Buy Fresh, Buy Local
Your source for fresh, local food
Welcome to the Northeast Iowa Buy Fresh, Buy Local page. We are excited to connect you to those farmers who grow food for you!
This website is the on-line companion to the annual Upper Iowa Buy Fresh Buy Local Food Directory. Memberships are renewed each March. This directory is part of the Iowa Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign (www.bfbliowa.org).
The Local Food Directory and the Iowa Fresh Food website currently highlight producers in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties. Producers outside of the region are welcome to participate. We invite you to browse our pages packed with resources for consumers and producers.
March 23 Workshop Help Prepare for Farmers Market Season
The NE Iowa Food and Farm Coalition (NIFF) is hosting a workshop on “Preparing for the Farmers Market Season” on March 23 at the NE IA Dairy Foundation Center in Calmar. The workshop will run from 10 am to 3 pm and will feature two speakers and a producer panel.
Growers who want to get serious about farmers markets and the income opportunities they can provide will learn how farmers markets are affecting Iowa, as well as strategies to draw in customers, convey their stories, make the sale and bring customers back. Read more.
Farm to School Team Teachers Trained
High school students from four school northeast Iowa school districts recently participated in a training coordinated by Iowa State University Extension. The training prepared students for their role as cross-age teachers in the Farm to School program which will begin in January.
The high school age team teachers will facilitate Farm to School lessons with second grade students once a month using folios developed specifically for northeast Iowa. The folios feature a different local food each month and provide information for parents and students.
Students from Howard-Winneshiek, Starmont, Postville and Turkey Valley and Oelwein high schools participated. Each school has an adult coach for the program. In addition to participating in the recent training, the coaches will also be in the classroom to support and supervise the team teachers.
