In 2024, only 26 farmers, small businesses, and nonprofits were awarded funding—but Iowa is home to more than 86,000 farms.

If you’re passionate about Iowa’s food system and want to help shape its future, we have an exciting opportunity for you! The Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) is currently accepting applications for three new Steering Committee members for the year 2025.

Developing and supporting a local food system in Iowa should be a cornerstone of Iowa’s agriculture policy. To this end, IFSC has developed four legislative policy asks for the 2025 session.

On December 6th, food system leaders, policymakers, and community advocates gathered in Ames for the Local Food Policy Summit, part of the annual Iowa Farmers Union Convention. It was a day of connection, discussion, and reflection on the future of Iowa’s food system, bringing together diverse voices to share ideas and explore solutions.

On December 8th, the Rath Mansion in Waterloo, home of our Executive Director Chris Schwartz, set the stage for an inspiring evening of connection, conversation, and reflection. Surrounded by holiday cheer and a spread of locally sourced Iowa foods, attendees gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities within Iowa’s food system.

Planning out all the local food choices for this year’s holiday table has been a lot of fun but also a reminder of the importance of the work being done by the Iowa Food System Coalition and our 40+ food and farm partner organizations. I am deeply grateful for the farmers, producers, and food artisans whose hard work and dedication make Iowa's food system vibrant and thriving.

The Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) invites stakeholders from across Iowa’s agricultural community to join the Local Food Policy Summit, a gathering for statewide food system partners, including state agencies, legislators, farmers and other organizations to share information about food system priorities leading up to the 2025 Iowa legislative session.

This holiday season, the Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) and its partners are proud to highlight the incredible work happening across our state to bring locally-grown food to your table. We are excited to showcase the initiatives, events, and resources from our partners to make this season a celebration of Iowa's thriving local food community.

The holiday season is often the busiest time of year for food pantries. As DMARC continues to experience record levels of need, with an average of 1,200 individuals served daily, their commitment to providing local food is more important than ever.

Eat Greater Des Moines, a partner in the Iowa Food System Coalition, joined in the fun at the Iowa Farmer's Union Day at the State Fair. With their innovative blender bike, EGDSM demonstrated the vibrant energy and commitment that IFSC members bring to building a stronger local and regional food system in Iowa.

On July 1st, IFSC hosted a Luncheon Launch on the lawn of the State Capitol to announce the arrival of our plan. This event was a great success, bringing together community members, stakeholders, and advocates to celebrate this milestone.

Healthy Harvest of North Iowa (HHNI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the local food system and connecting the community to those who grow food in North Central Iowa. HHNI offers a wealth of resources, including a local foods recipe database, comprehensive local food guides available in print and online, and a hub of producer resources.

The Center for Rural Affairs has been advocating for rural communities for over 50 years, and has been working in Iowa for nearly ten years. The Center has recently had the opportunity to expand our local foods programming, historically focused in Nebraska, into Southwest Iowa.

The Iowa Health and Human Services Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Team is leading the efforts with the Food, Nutrition, and Health (FNH) chapter of the Iowa Food Plan. This team includes public health professionals and dietitians that lead initiatives to improve access to resources and opportunities that allow Iowans to eat a healthy diet and live an active lifestyle.

We did it! We are thrilled to announce the release of Setting the Table for All Iowans–a roadmap to nurturing a thriving, sustainable, and more equitable food system.

Representatives of the Iowa Food System Coalition played a big role at the 2024 Iowa Youth Institute held on April 29 thanks to the organizing of Megan Kemp of Iowa State University Farm, Food, and Enterprise Development.

The Iowa Food System Coalition is excited to announce that we have named Chris Schwartz as our new executive director.

Iowa Valley’s commitment to serve as a catalyst for accelerated change is reflected in its leadership that is modeling what’s possible through a vibrant ecosystem of farms, businesses, the natural environment, and thriving urban and rural communities.

Value Chain Coordinators in action: The community fridge model is catching on like wildfire throughout Iowa!