The Johnson County Food Policy Council shows how a local council can move from community conversations to concrete policy, investment, infrastructure, and public engagement. Its work offers one example of how grassroots food system leadership can shape local decision-making and contribute to broader change across Iowa.

How the Johnson County Food Policy Council began:

Growing out of a regional effort to strengthen the local food system, a local food task force was established in 2007 in Johnson County, Iowa. In 2012, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors expanded the effort to create the Food Policy Council (FPC). The FPC is an advisory body to support a stronger, more connected local food economy through collaboration, research, and policy guidance.

The FPC is made up of volunteer members who represent a variety of backgrounds, including farmers, food business owners, nonprofit representatives, academics, and economic development professionals, and is supported by two Johnson County Local Foods staff members.

“When you look at the whole food system in Johnson County, the FPC is not the only piece of the puzzle,” said Madeline McCabe, Johnson County Local Foods Assistant. “There is a bigger network of people making so much great work happen, keeping everyone excited about it.”

What the council works on:

Using surveys and feedback from public forums, the Johnson County FPC continues to identify challenges and opportunities to serve all communities better.

• Engage rural communities

• Address rural food access and rural grocery store closures

• Utilize local data

• Increase storytelling

Policy wins and public investment:

The Council does more than influence policy. They also focus on public investments, public infrastructure, and community building.

• Policy change: Recent policy wins by the FPC include ensuring local food and agricultural goals were included in the Johnson County Comprehensive Plan, creating an agritourism zoning district, and establishing an agricultural exemption for farms under 40 acres.

• Public investment: Public investments from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, community members, and federal and private grant programs are all critical for its success. The funding makes the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm available as a public good and agricultural educational space.

• Public infrastructure: Infrastructure is necessary to strengthen the local food economy. There is ongoing work to develop a commercial kitchen at the Johnson County Historic Poor Farm for local food entrepreneurs.

• Community building: From formal events to community gatherings, the FPC is dedicated to creating opportunities for connections across the local food system. The FPC hosts two public forums each year, bringing together a wide array of stakeholders to dive into annual planning and long-term goal development.

“One of the council’s greatest contributions has been serving as a connector within the local food system,” said McCabe. “I love seeing people come together who wouldn’t have connected otherwise.”

Challenges

FPC work does not come without challenges. Shifting grant funding availability, staffing changes within partner organizations, and limited capacity all require FPC members to constantly strategize and adapt their work.

Recent Successes

Interest in the council is growing, with new members joining and increasing involvement from younger community members. Applications to be a 2026 FPC member came in at record numbers, and the group currently sits at its capacity of 15 members.

Between 2023 and 2024, the FPC offered the Community Food and Farm Grant Program (CFFGP) to small food and farm businesses at multiple stages of development. Approximately $740,000 was distributed to 41 businesses using funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

The FPC also utilized funding from Thriving Communities, an independent organization that works to build community capacity through film. In partnership with a local movie theater, the FPC created and hosted a viewing session of short films highlighting CFFGP recipients. Drawing over 125 attendees, the screening was followed by a panel discussion and a meal from the businesses supported by the CFFGP.

Through collaboration, investment, and storytelling, the Johnson County Food Policy Council continues to bring people together to strengthen and cultivate the local food system.