 Department of Rural Economic Development Woodbury County, Iowa 620 Douglas Street Sioux City, IA 51101 712-279-6609 Updated: November 17, 2011

A FILM BY AN AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER

"The Organic Opportunity, Local Organic Food as
Economic Development in Woodbury County"

by Chris Bedford, has been released to much acclaim.

To order, send a check for $25 made out to:

Christopher Bedford,

#6543 Hancock Road,

Montague, MI 49437.

Or visit the Chris Bedford Films order page at
www.localharvest.org and search Chris Bedford films.

Memorial

We are sad to have heard of the recent passing of Mr. Bedford. His passion, commitment, and professionalism will forever inspire those who either knew him personally or knew him through his exceptional work.

NEW POSTS & EVENTS

11.14.11 USDA’s Economic Research Service Report on Local Foods: Marketing Local Foods

9.22.11 Entrepreneur Magazine Article: How the Farm-to-Table Movement Is Helping Grow

the Economy

8.8.11 New Report: Union of Concerned Scientists: Market Forces - Creating Jobs Through Public Investment in Local and Regional Food Systems

3.7.11 Gotta Love Sedgwick, Maine’s New Local Food Ordinance & Press Release

1.7.11 Pureside Organics: A Success of the Woodbury County Entrepreneur Program

10.22.10 Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems ... Law Review Article on Woodbury Policies

9.27.10: Economic Studies: Farm Subsidies: Understand History of US Farm Subsidies

7.20.10: “Investing in Woodbury County” Loan Program: Press Release - Program Description

AUDIO AND VIDEO PROGRAM MATERIALS

REFERENCES

Woodbury Farm Guide - Overview of Local Programs To Support Small Family Farms

MOSES - Guide To Organic Certification

NSAC - Food Systems Funding Guide

USDA Online Info Re: Local Foods:

•US Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack - On Local Foods (YouTube)
•Program Specifics - Know Your Farmer - Connecting Farmer with Consumer
•US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, K. Merrigan - A List of Programs & Details

Organic Market Program - A Partnership

Woodbury County
City of Sioux City
Siouxland Chamber of Commerce

Good Reasons to Locate Business in Woodbury County: Infrastructure, Incentives, Services, Community

To Learn More About What We Have To Offer:

Order Our Free DVD

By Phone: 800.228.7903

By Email: nthompson@siouxlandchamber.com

Local Food Eating Challenge

KWIT FM 90.3 PODCAST - Rob Marqusee
Local Food Challenge: June 22, 2009

See: Local Food Journal - The 100-Mile Diet Challenge

Sioux City Famers Market 2010

The Sioux City Farmers Market is Supported By Our Community. See What Our Citizens Have to Say!

Review the 2010 Farmers Market Annual Report

LOCAL FARMER & FOOD SECURITY ACT - PROPOSAL*

A three-pronged solution to revitalizing rural communities, promoting healthy diets, and securing our food sources:

•Policy at the state should unequivocally recognize food production as an economic development activity by creating a partnership between the Department of Economic Development and Department of Agriculture
•Proposed Legislation will balance out markets providing security for upstart food producers. The proposal is called : Iowa Local Farmer & Food Security Act. The State of Maryland uses similar tax credit tools to address the food desert issue.

•The state should mandate between 1% to 5% of economic development dollars to develop infrastructure needed to establish local food systems (i.e., refrigerator trucks, cooperative warehousing, marketing, etc.).

* Iowa, a top agriculture-based state, does not believe that that food production is of any economic development value. It is estimated that Iowa imports 90% of its food - shipping $8B in food dollars out of the state each year. “Food production is not a focus of economic development in the State of Iowa, says Iowa officials. Therefore, there is not one penny of support from the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) for food production activities. SEE: Letter providing background information of local food as economic development

The key to economic vitality is diversification of its agricultural activities. There are two reasons why the State of Iowa is not so diversified: The (Dys)-Functional Division of IDED & Dept. of Agriculture AND Federal Farm Subsidies Heavily Skews Markets to Corn & Soybeans