|
 |
|
subscribe
to the Organic Broadcaster: New farmer's
market is 'valueS added':Floyd
Boulevard Local Foods Market in Sioux City, Iowa" Pork chops sizzling, popcorn popping, and the fresh aroma of seasonal strawberries and raspberries are only a few of the sights and smells a customer of the Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market will experience every Saturday morning in Sioux City, Iowa. At 8 A.M. the ring of a market bell signals the opening of a new kind of farmers' market in the Midwest--a market that intentionally supports family farmers that only raise food in a natural and humane manner. The Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market is a project of the Sustainable Foods for Siouxland (SFFS, Inc.), a joint farmer and consumer effort to establish a humane and sustainable local food supply for the tri-state region (Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa) known as Siouxland. The market goes beyond "Healthy, Humane, Homegrown" food, but offers a promise of a healthy local economy, for sustainable economic development is one of the project's principle goals. "Three quarter of a million people who live within 75 miles of Sioux City spend over three hundred and twenty million dollars on food each year," said Penny Fee, a caterer and founder of SFFS. "Less than one percent of that money is spent on food raised locally. We want to change that. If every family in Siouxland spent just ten dollars a week on local food that would mean over 30 million dollars for local farmers." When this $30 million enters the local economy a multiplier effect of from two to eight times (depending on the economist) produces from $60 million to $240 million in additional local economic activity. For instance, a local farmer might use his/her increased income to buy a tractor from a local implement dealer who, in turn, might build a garage on his office....etc. Once new money enters a local economy it produces multiple new economic activity. ValueS Added
Agriculture "The Floyd
Boulevard market goes far beyond local. Our farmers only sell food
and products they have grown themselves," said organic producer
and organizer Michelle Oehlerking of Sioux City. The products sold
in our market must be grown naturally, without the use of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) or toxic substances. Animal products must
be raised humanely. And we believe in transparency. Farmers allow
the market and consumers, if they wish, to verify all statements
about how their products are raised." According to the same poll, Midwesterners were most likely to trust both industrial and smaller scale family farm models of agriculture. "Iowa was the obvious place to begin this work," said Robert Hadad, Farm Systems Director of the Humane Society of the United States. Iowa is one of the most industrialized agricultural areas of the World." "There
are 174 farmers' markets in Iowa, but only one with the criteria
we use," said Jerry Rosman, a farmer and consultant with the
market. "If a ValueS
Added approach to food production could work in Iowa," said
Chris Bedford, "it can work anywhere. To be honest, some people
were skeptical about this approach, especially in an area as industrialized
as Siouxland. After all, our slogan 'Healthy. Humane. Homegrown.
Local food you can trust.' Isn't exactly uncritical of the dominant
industrial paradigm. But even I was surprised at our results."
The public response to the Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market has been overwhelmingly positive! Weekly, new farmers and producers inquire about requirements to join the market. The number of farmers participating has grown in two months of operation from six to over twenty. The Saturday morning crowds are now approaching a thousand in number. To meet this consumer demand, the market is also open Wednesday evenings from 3-7 PM. "We have an area where shoppers can just sit, have a cup of coffee. I know people who come to the market to shop and then just hang around to talk with their friends. We are creating a new sense of community around healthy food. What could be better for our area's future?" said Cindy McClary, chief dietitian for the Siouxland Regional Cancer Center and Board Secretary of SFFS. The Saturday morning market opens promptly at 8 AM with the ringing of the market bell by a prominent Sioux City leader or supporter. Since its opening in May, leaders of all political stripes have rung the bell and addressed the assembled farmers and customers. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry endorsed the market in a recent Lewis and Clark visit in the Sioux City area. Produce and items from our market were featured at a benefit dinner for the leaders. The market is located at the corner of 5th Street and Floyd Boulevard in Sioux City. The next step in the project is to convert the ten thousand square foot 1940s truck terminal into a year-round market and sustainable food "incubator". "We want to use this project to help farmers--particularly young farmers," ," said Chris Bedford, "who want to participate in the rapidly growing organic and humane food market, learn how to grow organically and raise animals humanely as well as develop new food products for customers. We are working with other groups, notably the Iowa Farmers Union and the Iowa Network for Community Agriculture, to develop education programs and technical assistance." The year-round project has already received inquiries from health providers ranging from chiropractors to massage therapists who want to have office space in or near the 5th and Floyd building. A wine store, dairy store, meat store, and a café are all part of the permanent market's plans. The renovated building will include a commercial kitchen, classrooms, offices, and a public meeting space as well as 40 stalls and stores for year-round vendors. For more information
about the Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market, Sustainable Foods
for Siouxland, Inc. and the Care 4 Iowa Campaign of The Humane Society
of the United States, visit the project's website; www.siouxlandlocalfood.org.
Amy Freiburger
is the Care4Iowa campaign organizer for the Farm Animals and Sustainable
Agriculture department of The Humane Society of the United States.
Along with Chris Bedford, national campaign coordinator for the
Farm Animals department, she has been actively coordinating the
opening of the Floyd Boulevard Local Foods Market. Freiburger recently
joined The HSUS and formerly comes from an organic dairy farm in
Northeast Iowa. Her parents market their milk to Organic Valley
Family of Farms.
|
|
Copyright Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service 2000-2007 |