The goal of the foodroutes.org website, in collaboration with communityfood.com, is to provide timely information, resources and market opportunities for the food and farming community, community-based nonprofits, the food concerned public, policy makers and the media. FoodRoutes Network (FRN) is also working with Ocean Group, developers of the foodroutes.org and localharvest.org web sites, to develop a county-level mapping technology that will allow groups to build local markets by integrating online foodshed level farm and business directories into their websites.

Do you know where your food comes from? How it was grown? Where your food dollar goes? Welcome to our Learn More center, where you can find answers to these questions and more information and resources on food and farming.

Library Archives

Looking for more detailed information? You can search our documents library for the latest reports and publications, video clips, and audio files on food and farming.

News

Check out our News Room for the latest headlines on a variety of food and farming topics. Our News Room also houses Alan Guebert’s column The Final Word.

Hot Topics

Visit our Hot Topics pages with all of our information, news, publications, event listings, organization listing, and more on the following topics:

• LOCAL FOODS
• YOUR FOOD DOLLAR
• HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY
• FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Press Room

Members of the media: make sure to check our Press Room for our latest press releases and more information about how you can help the local foods movement.

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Looking for other Web sites? Check out our vast collection of links and find what you’re looking for.

Description

The Prairie Festival, 2005, will feature speakers such as Bill McKibben, David Kline, Wes Jackson, Strachan Donnelley, Sue Halpern, Craig Holdrege, and Carl McDaniel. The festival will also include the latest research briefings from the Land Institute, farm tours, local food, a barn dance, and more.

Practical Farmers of Iowa, in cooperation with University of Northern Iowa?s Center for Energy & Environmental Education, is organizing a Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign.

Buy Local Campaign Mission:

• Make it easier for residents of Black Hawk County and surrounding counties to find locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats & poultry, eggs, honey, and other agricultural products.
• Encourage residents of our region to support our local treasures: farmers markets, family farms & orchards, local meat lockers, & businesses that serve or sell locally grown products.
• Stimulate the economic vitality of the Northeast Iowa region through strengthening the viability of independent farmers and businesses.

About the Campaign Partners

Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) is a statewide, non-profit organization with over 600 farmers and non-farmer members. Since 1985 PFI has been devoted to researching and developing more profitable, ecological and community enhancing approaches to agriculture.

The Center for Energy & Environmental Education at University of Northern Iowa implements community-based initiatives promoting energy conservation, ecological alternatives to lawn pesticides, and local food systems that strengthen family farms and the local economy. Learn more by visiting www.uni.edu/ceee.

Did You Know? Residents of Black Hawk County, IA spend nearly $350 million on food and eating out every year. Most of their food dollars leave the county and state because the majority of the food consumers buy in Iowa has been grown elsewhere. Iowans can keep more money circulating in Black Hawk County when consumers and food buyers purchase locally grown or raised food. This strengthens the local economy and community. Rudy’s Tacos, a Waterloo restaurant, for example, spends nearly $143,000 each year, 71% of its annual food purchases, on local food. A dozen other institutions in this community are also buying local.

Look for:

• The ?Buy Fresh, Buy Local? label, it identifies locally grown products in grocery stores and restaurants near you.
• ?Get Yourself a Farmer,? a directory for finding locally grown food including: farmers markets, meat lockers, u-pick operations, as well as farms and businesses who sell locally grown products directly to consumers.

It’s easy to find local food when you:

• Use the ?Get Yourself a Farmer? directory to find a farmer, farmers market, orchard, meat locker, or local food outlet near you.
• Encourage your local grocery stores and restaurants to purchase more products from local farmers.

Join the Campaign

Households Can:

• Use the ?Get Yourself a Farmer? directory to buy fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products raised on local farms.
• Visit nearby farmers markets and u-pick operations.
• Support grocery stores and restaurants featuring local products. Encourage these local businesses to buy local.
• Also support the campaign by joining Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Farmers, Processors, Grocery Stores, Restaurants, Institutions Can Join the Campaign and Receive These Benefits:

• A free listing in the ?Get Yourself a Farmer? directory
• ?Buy Fresh, Buy Local? marketing materials
• Use the “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” label in your promotional materials
• A complimentary membership with Practical Farmers of Iowa

For information about the campaign, contact:

Kamyar Enshayan
(319) 273-7575
www.practicalfarmers.org