Asparagus is standing tall, tomatoes are growing and potato plants are off to a good start — all signs that it’s time again for local fruits and vegetables in Iowa. But despite growing demand for local foods and increasing ways to access it, many consumers still struggle to act on their best intentions. For some, buying locally doesn’t fit easily into their normal food purchasing and cooking routines.

If you think this describes you, you’re in luck because there are more ways than ever to access local foods in Iowa.

Find farmer near you
Thanks to the internet and social media, finding and buying directly from local producers is easier than ever. To help connect consumers and producers, Practical Farmers of Iowa created a searchable directory of PFI-member farmers and organizations who market to consumers. Regional local food coordinators based across Iowa can also help connect consumers to local food producers in their areas.

“We can’t wait to get our spring greens from Low Oaks Farm,” says Alice Topaloff who lives in Decorah. Alice found Low Oaks Farm at a Community Supported Agriculture fair, and decided to join.

Local food isn’t just found in bigger cities; farmers who market to consumers can be found throughout the state. Adair County, for example, is home to Bridgewater Farm, which raises organic produce, livestock and eggs. Lisa Sawtelle of Creston is a fan. “I found Bridgewater Farm at my local farmers market four summers ago. I was drawn to them because they were a small, family-owned farm, and I like to support that.”

Community Supported Ag
Joining a CSA lets consumers support a farm by purchasing their “share” of vegetables at the beginning of the season, then receiving a weekly box throughout the summer. Lisa Sawtelle says her family likes being part of Bridgewater Farm’s CSA because they’ve not only helped support a local farmer, but also learned more about food.

“This will be our third year participating. We’ve found, as a family, that our palette widened when we began participating in CSA,” she says. ”We learned how to eat and prepare foods we had previously never even heard of.”

Many farmers listed in PFI’s directory have CSA, or visit the CSA directory compiled by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Other farms do box programs that are distributed like a CSA share but are purchased weekly. For example, Harvestville Farm in Donnellson does an occasional box filled with products from their farm and other local farms and businesses. Each box has a theme: the BLT box includes tomatoes and lettuce from Harvestville Farm, and 1 pound of local bacon. The breakfast box has 1 pound of sausage, a dozen eggs, potatoes, peppers and onions, all from local producers.

“It is a wonderful way to have fresh, in-season produce without having to take care of your own garden,” says frequent customer Paula Pohren of Farmington.

Online purchasing another option
Local food aggregators, and even some farmers, are offering online ordering. Some aggregators offer multiple pickup locations across Iowa to make local food more widely available. You can plan your purchase from home, and then pick up all your local products in one quick trip. Examples include Farm to Folk, based in Ames; the Iowa Food Cooperative, based in Des Moines; and Iowa Valley Food Co-op, based in Cedar Rapids.

These online options also let farmers supply consumers with local foods throughout the winter.

Farmers markets remain popular
For people who like to shop at a physical location, the farmers market can be the highlight of the week. These markets usually feature several farmers from the region and a wide range of offerings. Numerous markets are located across Iowa. Find a market near you in this directory compiled by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Emily Zimmerman, of Ames says she’s looking forward to shopping at the Ames farmers market for berries from Berry Patch Farm, of Nevada, and cheese from Lost Lake Farm, of Jewell. “Supporting local farmers is important to me because their products are diversifying our local agricultural landscape, cultivating a sense of community each Saturday at our local market, and providing nutritious and healthy food to our community.”

Grocery stores sell more locally produced food
If you like to shop for local produce, but your schedule doesn’t fit the farmers market or on-farm purchasing, seek out local products in your grocery store. Some stores like Wheatsfield Co-op in Ames, New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, and Campbell’s Nutrition in Des Moines consistently offer fruits, vegetables and other products raised by local farmers.

Certain Hy-Vee and Fareway stores around the state also occasionally carry local fruits and vegetables. Lisa Sawtelle, of Creston, applauds her local Hy-Vee and Fareway. “I love that our rural stores are starting to carry Bridgewater Farm greens, so I can get them locally during the non-CSA season.”

If you’re not satisfied with the options at your local grocery store, find the produce manager and tell him or her you’d prefer to buy local fruits and vegetables, and ask which products might become available. “Iowans are fortunate to have some of the best soils in the world. This summer, let’s take pride in supporting our fruit and vegetable farmers and the bounty they bring from our soil to our communities,” she says.

Source: Practical Farmers of Iowa