Across Iowa, a powerful local foods movement is taking root, with local food becoming a priority in decision-making at all levels. Investments are being made to help small, local, and diverse farms thrive, and we’re excited to see how these developments are shaping communities across the state.
Here is a great example! Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT) has received a $1.8M USDA grant to increase land access for underrepresented farmers. SILT will be expanding their
“Circle Our Cities” Campaign to protect farmland in Waterloo and partnering with We Arose. The founder of We Arose is Daquan Campbell (member-owner of the Rooted Carrot.) Land access is the number one obstacle for beginning farmers. Iowa land costs 20 times more than it did 20 years ago. This grant will help farmers navigate financial assistance programs and tackle the increasingly high cost of land. Read more here: https://silt.org/sustainable-iowa-land-trust-receives-1-8m-usda-grant/
Here in the Cedar Valley, we’ve been on a 10-year journey to establish a local food store, and our enthusiasm is as strong as ever. We believe that the momentum of this growing local food movement will give us the final push we need to bring the Rooted Carrot Co-Op Market to life.
Our board is working hard to ensure that Cedar Valley doesn’t miss out on these incredible opportunities. We’re committed to making sure our community benefits from these exciting developments, and we’re grateful for your continued support as we move closer to making this vision a reality. Don’t miss our annual member-owner meeting on September 25th (see calendar of events) for more details to learn how you can get involved! Submit your application to become a Rooted Carrot Board member!
Mallory DeVries, Board Member & Communications Committee; local producer
Jodie Huegerich, Board Member & Board President, UNI Local Food Program Manager