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Local Foods
We strive to foster strong communities based on diverse ties between farmers and non-farmers.
One of the strongest ties is purchasing food and farm products from local farms. Buying from local farms keeps money circulating in your community, and builds a more resilient food system.
If you are interested in purchasing food raised on PFI-member farms, the directory below can help you find farmers near you. Try the search bar to look for nearby cities or towns, or specific products.
Local Foods Purchasing Assistance Program — Now Open!
Along with our partner organizations, PFI is pleased to announce that the Iowa Local Foods Purchasing Assistance Program is now open for farmers and vendors!
The Iowa Local Foods Purchasing Assistance Program will buy local food from Iowa’s producers for distribution to Iowans in under-resourced communities.
If you produce local food in Iowa and are interested in selling your raw agricultural products or value-added products into the Iowa LFPA program, submit this producer registration form to receive more information on becoming an LFPA vendor. All local food farmers are encouraged to apply, including beginning farmers, smaller-scale producers, and farmers who primarily distribute through CSAs or share boxes.
Products eligible for sale to the Iowa LFPA include: produce, grains, legumes, dairy, meat, mushrooms, eggs, honey, maple syrup, and value added products containing at least 51% locally-produced raw product. Products must be produced within the state of Iowa or in the immediate bordering counties to be eligible for sale into LFPA.
Registration should take about 15 minutes; please have any relevant licenses, food safety certificates, and W9 forms available as you complete the form.
Questions? Contact Natasha Hegmann at (515) 232-5661 or natasha.hegmann(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org.
Success Story: Farming From the Heart
In 2023, Max Chavez became a registered vendor through LFPA. Read this winter magazine article to learn how Max’s participation in the program helped in sell extra cases of produce, earn extra income and even donate extra produce to those in need.
Practical Farmers’ Local Food Directory
Want to add your farm to PFI’s Local Foods Directory? Please become a member and complete this form.
Businesses and organizations can also be listed in the directory. Please join at the Organization Member level and email emma.liddle(at)practicalfarmers.org.
Other Local Food Resources
- Local Harvest
- Iowa Farmers Market Directory
- Iowa State University’s Iowa CSA Directory
- ISU Extension and Outreach Farm, Food and Enteprise Development
- Iowa Regional Food System Working Group – main page (RFSWG)
- Eat Fresh SE Iowa (RFSWG organization)
- Field to Family Regional Community Food Coalition (East Central) (RFSWG organization)
- Prairie Rivers of Iowa and ISU Extension (Central) (RFSWG organization)
- Flavors of Northwest Iowa (RFSWG organization)
- Northeast Iowa Food and Farm Coalition (RFSWG organization)
- Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership… RFSWG Region 9… (RFSWG organization)
- Southwest Iowa Food and Farm Initiative (RFSWG organization)
- Southern Iowa Local Foods Initiative (RFSWG organization)
- Produce with a Purpose (Wapello County) (RFSWG organization)
- Dubuque Eats Well (RFSWG organization)
- Healthy Harvest of North Iowa (RFSWG organization)
- Eat Greater Des Moines (RFSWG organization)
- Jasper County Regional Food System Working Group (RFSWG organization)
- Iowa meat processing plants (IDALS)
Contact Information
For more information about local foods: contact Natasha Hegmann at natasha.hegmann@practicalfarmers.org.