Community Market Cooperative Celebrates the Harvest

Harvest time is almost upon us. The fields are already turning colors. It's beautiful to see the mix of green and gold. I'm not ready, though, to have the bare hills around us. With the cool nights coming on, soon it will be the trees turn to change it's colors.

As harvest gets closer, CMC is planning the first annual Local Harvest Banquet. We will have more information on our website soon. This banquet will be a delicious full course meal of food and beverages from around Iowa.

Many food items can be stored, canned or frozen and soon the farmers' markets will be done. So stock up on your local foods now so come the holidays you'll have plenty for your own dinners and your entertaining.


Friday, June 22, 2007

Legislature Approves and Funds Iowa Farm to School Program

1000 Friends of Iowa Applauds Future Benefits for Local Economies and Farmland

With news of the last minute approval of legislation that will bring fresh Iowa foods to Iowa school students, spirits are soaring at the 1000 Friends of Iowa office. Senate File 452, introduced by Senator Joe Bolkcom from Iowa City, was stalled out for many weeks at the legislature but ended up being amended onto other legislation at the end of the session last week.
Policy language creating the program and establishing a Farm to School Council was added to the “standings bill,” SF 601, the last bill of the session. An $80,000 appropriation to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) was added to Agriculture and Natural Resources budget bill, Senate File 551. IDALS will administer the program with two full-time staff.



The Farm to School program was established to encourage and promote the purchase of locally and regionally produced or processed food in order to improve child nutrition and strengthen local and regional farm economies. A seven-member Farm to School Council will seek to establish partnerships with public agencies and non-profit organizations to foster communication between farmers and schools, and will seek financial or in-kind contributions to support the program.
The Farm to School Program is a wonderful starting point that will address many of 1000 Friends of Iowa's concerns about how we use our land in Iowa and pass the benefits of that knowledge on to our most precious resource…future generations.
1000 Friends of Iowa staff followed the legislation and engaged people along the way, even when legislators said it was a dead issue.1000 Friends of Iowa worked with other organizations and supporters including health professionals, faith-based organizations, and farmers. 1000 Friends of Iowa members and others weighed in at key times in the legislative process about how this program will boost local economies and advance sustainable agriculture.
Big thanks should go to Senator Joe Bolkcom from Iowa City and Senator Robert Dvorsky from Coralville for getting the policy language in the standings bill. Representative Mark Kuhn from Charles City advanced the $80,000 appropriation and Senator Staci Appel from Carlisle was a persistent supporter during key times in the legislative process.
You can email and thank them at the following email addresses:
joe.bolkcom@legis.state.ia.us
mark.kuhn@legis.state.ia.us
staci.appel@legis.state.ia.us
robert.dvorsky@legis.state.ia.us
1000 Friends of Iowa will stay involved as the next steps of this program develop and we will keep you updated. Establishing and growing this program means
• More dollars will circulate locally due to the expansion of markets for local foods
• Infrastructure for local food distribution will be advanced
• Connections between farmers and local communities will strengthen, furthering potential for farmland preservation and local planning for food security

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7 Principles of a Cooperative

1) Voluntary and open membership
The Cooperative is open to everyone who wants to use it’s services and who is willing to accept membership responsibilities.

2) Democratic member control
The Cooperative is a democratic organization controlled by members, through votes and elected representatives.

3) Members’ economic participation
Members contribute equally to and democratically control the capital of the Cooperative.

4) Autonomy and independence
The Cooperative is an autonomous organization controlled by our members.

5) Education, training and information
The Cooperative provides education and training for its members, elected representatives, managers and employees, so they can contribute effectively to co-op development.

6) Cooperation among cooperatives
The Cooperative serves it’s members most effectively and strengthens the cooperative movement by working together with other co-ops through regional, national and international structures.

7) Concern for community
While focusing on member needs, the Cooperative works for the sustainable development of the community.