Buy Fresh Buy Local
Buy Fresh, Buy Local is a comprehensive marketing program for farmers selling directly to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores and other institutions. Nationally the program is overseen by FoodRoutes Network and has 15 participating state organizations. Buy Fresh, Buy Local in Iowa is organized by Practical Farmers of Iowa in collaboration with a variety of partner organizations. The purpose of the program is:
- To increase market access, sales volume, net income and long-term stability of direct marketing farmers;
- To raise awareness among Iowans of our local treasures: farmers markets, family farms and orchards, local meat lockers, restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses that serve or sell locally grown farm products;
- To stimulate the social and economic vitality of Iowa through strengthening the viability of independent farmers and businesses.
The campaign was launched in 2003 in a seven-county area around Cedar Falls/Waterloo in partnership with the University of Northern Iowa. Practical Farmers of Iowa is delighted that the program has expanded to include eight local campaigns. Each local group recruits members, raises funds, hosts events and publishes a local food directory.
Below is a list of campaigns and their host agencies:
| Campaign | Counties | sponser | Contact |
| Black Hawk County Buy Fresh, Buy Local est. 2003 | Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Grundy, Tama | University of Northern Iowa |
Andrea Geary
|
| Upper Iowa Local Food Campaign est. 2004 | Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, Winneshiek | NE Iowa Food & Farm Coalition |
Teresa Wiemerslage
|
| Greater Des Moines Buy Fresh Buy Local est. 2004 | Boone, Dallas, Jasper, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Polk, Story, Warren | Drake Agricultural Law Center |
Matt Russell
|
| Quad City Buy Fresh Buy Local est. 2005 |
(IA) Cedar, Scott,
Clinton, Muscatine (IL) Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Whiteside |
Interstate RC&D |
Neal Sawyer
|
| Hometown Harvest of Southeast Iowa est. 2005 | Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Van Buren, Wapello | Pathfinder RC&D |
Mary Carter
|
|
Southeast Iowa Buy Fresh Buy Local
est. 2005
www.geodercd.org/BFBL |
Des Moines, Henry, Lee, Louisa |
Geode RCD, Inc.
|
Christa Perkins
308 North 3rd street Burlington, IA 52601 cperkins@geodercd.org 319-752-6395 |
| Johnson County Buy Fresh Buy Local est. 2006 | Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Muscatine, Washington | Johnson County Local Food Alliance |
James Nisly
|
| Humbolt County Buy Fresh Buy Local est. 2006 | Calhoun, Humbolt, Kossuth, Pocahontas | Prairie Partners RC&D |
Bob Moser
1301 6th Ave., N. Suite 4 Humbolt, IA 50548-1150 robert.moser@ia.usda.gov 515-332-3337 |
| River Bend Buy Fresh Buy Local est. 2008 | Cedar, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque,Jones, Jackson, | Limestone Bluffs RC&D |
Warren Johnson
|
| Swiffi Buy Fresh Buy Local est. 2008 | Adair, Adams, Audubon, Cass, Guthrie, Montgomery, Pottawattamie, Union, Shelby | Wallace Foundation for Rural Research & Development |
Keith Booth
|