This is a summary of an 18-page report: 2013 Economic Impacts of Iowa's Regional Food Systems Working Group. The report looks at the statewide impact of the local foods sector on Iowa's economy, based on data collected in 2012 and 2013 by local food coordinators who are part of RFSWG.

This 18-page report offers a two-year look at the statewide impact of the local foods sector on Iowa's economy, based on an evaluation of the efforts of the Regional Food Systems Working Group (RFSWG). The evaluation measured four indicators of economic change: local food sales by farmers, local food purchases by grocery stores, restaurants and institutions, job creation and funds leveraged to support development of regional food systems. Local food coordinators collected data in 2012 and 2013.

In July, 2011, the legislature passed Senate File 509, creating the Iowa Local Food & Farm Initiative (LFFI). The LFFI was created to strengthen local food economies that promote self-sufficiency and job growth in the agricultural and allied sectors. The legislature allocated $150,000 to LFFI in 2012 and 2013 ($75,000 each year), of which 30 to 35 percent was applied to a competitive grants program in 2012 and 2013.

The LFFI has funded seven local foods projects focused on the areas of business development; beginning, minority, and transitioning farmers; and development of farm to institution sales. This impact brief shows how modest investments can leverage additional funds, create economic opportunity, benefit youth, increase awareness of local foods, and prompt new partnerships and projects.

This is an evaluation of seven one-year food system projects funded by the Local Food & Farm Initiative (LFFI). The initiative is funded by an annual appropriation from the Iowa Legislature and administered from the Leopold Center. For ever dollar of LFFI investment in these projects, another $17.92 was leveraged by project leaders and their partners.