According to a University of Northern Iowa study of a seven county area in Iowa where the Buy Fresh Buy Local Program was implemented, every $1 invested in the program returned a $6.50 economic impact to the local community. These results are exciting for the sustainability of rural communities and illustrate how they can grow new economic opportunities with local foods.

We have begun a new project, with the help of a US Department of Agriculture grant, to assist nine communities in northeast Nebraska to develop local food programs. Students in FFA (Future Farmers of America), FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and economics classes will figure out what each community’s members know about local foods and their preferences for implementing new programs in each town.

Surveys, informational meetings, and strategic planning will help the community projects take shape. Kim Preston, research analyst at the Center, pointed out the benefit to local farmers and ranchers of this project. “Survey results will allow area producers to see what opportunities exist and to plan ahead to take advantage of them.”

We’ll be on hand to assist the students in identifying local growers and what they are growing, to look for rental opportunities for beginning farmers and students to start a garden, and to assess local institutions’ willingness to sell and use locally grown foods. Our goal is to help residents in northeast Nebraska recognize and promote local foods as an economic development tool.

For more information on the project, contact Kathie Starkweather at 402.617.7946 or kathies@cfra.org.