Join the Movement for a Better Food System

The Iowa Food System Coalition is powered by a diverse network of partners who believe that a healthier, more resilient, and more just food system is possible and worth building together.

Our Partners

  • American Legion Post 232 Iowa

    American Legion Post 232 Iowa

    American Legion Post 232 supports veterans and rural communities through projects that enhance education, wellness, and agricultural engagement.

  • Birds & Bees Urban Farm

    Birds & Bees Urban Farm nurtures food justice in Des Moines through sustainable urban farming, education programs, and community partnerships.

  • Black Hawk County Public Health

    Black Hawk County Public Health

    Supports food security and community well-being by working directly with farmers, school pantries, and education initiatives that connect fresh food to those who need it most.

  • Capital City Fruit

    Capital City Fruit distributes fresh produce statewide, working with local growers to increase access to healthy food for schools, pantries, and institutions.

  • Cass County Local Food Policy Council

    Cass County Food Policy Council promotes health and resilience through local food policy, partnerships, and community programs like Produce Rx.

  • Center for Rural Affairs

    Center for Rural Affairs

    Supports sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and rural economic development through policy advocacy, community engagement, and mission-driven lending.

  • Central College

    Central College promotes food system awareness by connecting students with regional farms, sustainability education, and local food initiatives.

  • Corridor Community Action Network

    Corridor CAN fosters food access and equity in the Iowa Corridor through daily engagement, gardening programs, and direct community outreach.

  • Cultivate Local Food Connections

    Cultivate helps grow Iowa’s local food system by supporting small producers and creating digital tools like the Shop.Eat.Local app to reach consumers.

  • Des Moines Area Religious Council

    Des Moines Area Religious Council

    DMARC fights hunger through a 15-site food pantry network and champions policy change to expand access to fresh, locally sourced food.

  • Eat Greater Des Moines

    Eat Greater Des Moines rescues and redistributes food, supports food hubs, and builds community partnerships to strengthen local food access.

  • Feed Iowa First

    Feed Iowa First

    Feed Iowa First combats food insecurity by growing produce in urban plots and partnering with volunteers, businesses, and faith communities.

  • Field to Family

    Field to Family

    Field to Family operates a regional food hub and marketplace, connecting nearly 100 farmers with households, schools, and institutions in Iowa.

  • Food Hub Managers Working Group

    Food Hub Managers Working Group

    The Food Hub Managers Working Group strengthens Iowa’s local food economy by building the infrastructure and partnerships needed for aggregation, distribution, and marketing.

  • FoodCorps

    FoodCorps supports food education and school wellness by placing service members in Iowa classrooms to connect kids with nourishing local food.

  • Golden Hills RC&D

    Golden Hills RC&D

    Golden Hills RC&D leads community, conservation, and cultural projects to enhance quality of life in rural western Iowa. Their work supports local food systems, environmental stewardship, and place-based development.

  • Grace Fitness

    Grace Fitness

    Grace Fitness offers free fitness and nutrition programs to improve health outcomes and expand food access for the Black community in Des Moines.

  • Grow. Eat. Play.

    Grow. Eat. Play.

    Grow. Eat. Play. is a region-specific marketing and local food awareness campaign that works to celebrate, amplify, and preserve Iowa's local food culture.

  • Harkin Institute for Public Policy

    Harkin Institute for Public Policy

    The Harkin Institute for Public Policy advances wellness and economic opportunity through research, education, and civic engagement.

  • Harrisdale Homestead

    Harrisdale Homestead, a project of the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development, provides farm-based learning and supports rural development through agricultural research.

  • Healthy Harvest of North Iowa

    Healthy Harvest of North Iowa

    Healthy Harvest builds food system connections in North Iowa through Farm to School programs, local food education, and shared-use kitchen initiatives.

  • Henry County Public Health

    Henry County Public Health

    Henry County Public Health advances wellness by supporting produce donation programs, community gardens, and chronic disease prevention classes.

  • ISU Extension and Outreach

    ISU Extension delivers statewide education on food systems, nutrition, agriculture, and rural resilience through county-based support.

  • ISU Farm, Food and Enterprise Development

    ISU Farm, Food and Enterprise Development

    ISU’s Farm, Food and Enterprise Development Unit supports farm viability and food access through education, research, and applied technical assistance.

  • ISU Food Science & Human Nutrition Dept.

    ISU Food Science & Human Nutrition Dept.

    ISU Food Science & Human Nutrition advances research and community outreach in nutrition, food safety, and health across the food system.

  • ISU Health and Human Sciences

    ISU Health and Human Sciences

    Human Sciences Extension supports healthy communities through garden-based learning, SNAP-Ed nutrition programs, and economic empowerment.

  • Iowa Community HUB

    Iowa Community HUB

    Iowa Community HUB bridges healthcare and food access by coordinating produce delivery and nutrition programs with community-based organizations.

  • Iowa Environmental Council

    Iowa Environmental Council

    IEC promotes healthy agriculture, environmental justice, and land stewardship, bridging environmental health with equity to advance sustainable, people-centered solutions.

  • Iowa Farm to School & Early Care Coalition

    Iowa Farm to School & Early Care Coalition

    The Iowa Farm to School & Early Care Coalition connects kids with fresh, local food through schools and early care settings, ensuring all children have the nutrition they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

  • Iowa Farmers Union

    Iowa Farmers Union

    Iowa Farmers Union supports family farmers and sustainable agriculture through advocacy, policy education, and statewide food system initiatives.

  • Iowa Food Bank Association

    Iowa Food Bank Association

    Iowa Food Bank Association coordinates six food banks across Iowa, building partnerships to increase access to local food and reduce waste.

  • Iowa Food Cooperative

    Iowa Food Cooperative

    Iowa Food Cooperative (Quilted Acres) connects over 90 producers to customers statewide through an online marketplace and drop-off system rooted in local food access.

  • Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

    Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

    The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative promotes physical, social, and emotional well-being across the state through programs like Double Up Food Bucks.

  • Iowa HHS Healthy Iowans

    Iowa HHS Healthy Iowans

    Healthy Iowans works across agencies to improve public health outcomes by reducing barriers to nutritious, locally grown food.

  • Iowa Hunger Coalition

    Iowa Hunger Coalition

    Iowa Hunger Coalition advocates for policies that fight food insecurity and support community-based hunger relief efforts statewide.

  • Iowa Rural Health Association

    Iowa Rural Health Association

    Iowa Rural Health Association supports rural wellness by connecting healthcare providers with local food and nutrition-based solutions.

  • Iowa Valley RC&D

    Iowa Valley RC&D

    Iowa Valley RC&D supports vibrant communities through local food, conservation, and creative placemaking. Their work strengthens regional food systems, fosters sustainable land use, and builds partnerships that drive community resilience.

  • Johnson County Local Foods

    Johnson County Local Foods

    The Johnson County Local Food and Farm Team engages residents, farmers, and leaders to support equitable access to healthy, local food.

  • Limestone Bluffs Resource Conservation and Development

    Limestone Bluffs Resource Conservation and Development

    Limestone Bluffs RC&D supports regenerative agriculture, energy efficiency, and food system development in eastern Iowa communities.

  • Linn County Food Policy Council

    Linn County Food Policy Council

    The Linn County Food Policy Council advocates for a resilient and equitable local food system. They advise policymakers, support community initiatives, and work to increase access to healthy, locally grown food for all residents.

  • Lutheran Services in Iowa: Global Greens

    Lutheran Services in Iowa: Global Greens

    Global Greens reconnects former refugee farmers with land, training, and markets to grow culturally significant food in central Iowa.

  • MarketMaker

    MarketMaker

    MarketMaker connects buyers and sellers in the food value chain through an online platform that supports local and regional food economies.

  • Northeast Iowa Food Bank

    Northeast Iowa Food Bank

    Northeast Iowa Food Bank strengthens hunger relief and local food efforts through partnerships with farmers, food hubs, and community agencies.

  • Northeast Iowa RC&D

    Northeast Iowa RC&D

    Northeast Iowa RC&D advances conservation, economic development, and local food systems through community-led planning and project support.

  • Pottawattamie County Public Health

    Pottawattamie County Public Health

    Pottawattamie County Public Health addresses food insecurity and nutrition access in one of Iowa’s most underserved health regions.

  • Practical Farmers of Iowa

    Practical Farmers of Iowa

    Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) supports resilient farms and communities with farmer-led education, cost-share programs, and land access resources.

  • Rodale Institute – Midwest Organic Center

    Rodale Institute – Midwest Organic Center

    Rodale’s Midwest Organic Center trains farmers in regenerative practices and advances organic agriculture through on-farm research and education.

  • Rooted Carrot Co-op Market

    Rooted Carrot Co-op Market

    Rooted Carrot Co-op is an emerging member-owned grocery store in Cedar Falls dedicated to sourcing from local farms and serving community values.

  • Save the Children Action Network

    Save the Children Action Network

    Save the Children Action Network advocates for policies that ensure children have a strong start in life. In Iowa, they focus on expanding access to early childhood education and nutrition, especially in rural and underserved communities.

  • Seed Savers Exchange

    Seed Savers Exchange

    Seed Savers Exchange preserves the diversity of our food system by stewarding heirloom seeds and the stories behind them. Through education and seed sharing, they protect cultural and biological diversity.

  • Southeast Iowa Food Hub

    Southeast Iowa Food Hub

    Southeast Iowa Food Hub connects local farmers to institutions and consumers while building regional infrastructure for food distribution.

  • Sustainable Iowa Land Trust

    Sustainable Iowa Land Trust

    SILT protects Iowa farmland for sustainable food production and helps beginning farmers access affordable, long-term land tenure.

  • UNI’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education

    UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education

    UNI’s CEEE supports local food through farm-to-school initiatives, education, campus engagement, and the Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network Coalition.

  • University of Iowa School of Planning and Public Affairs

    University of Iowa School of Planning and Public Affairs

    This program supports local food and community development through academic research and student engagement with planning processes.

  • The Waukee Farm to School Program

    The Waukee Farm to School Program

    The Waukee Farm to School Program engages students in local food education and connects school meals to area producers.

  • Women, Food and Agriculture Network

    Women, Food and Agriculture Network

    WFAN is a supportive community for growers and land stewards historically excluded from agricultural resources and networks. WFAN brings together farmers, landowners, educators, and advocates to build a more just, inclusive, and sustainable food system.