Menu and Crop Planning Workshops to Focus on Local Foods

Iowa Valley Resource, Conservation and Development (IVRC&D) will hold two FREE workshops on Dec. 4th at the Johnson County ISU Extension located at 3109 Old Highway 218 S, Iowa City.

The first workshop, Menu Planning from 1-4 p.m., is designed for School Food Service professionals. Discussions with school representatives from Independence, Iowa City, West Liberty, West Branch – and also with Earth Biscuit Farm and Tammy Stotts, Iowa Farm to School will share how they advocate for local foods in schools for the health of students and local communities.

The second workshop, Crop Planning from 5-8 p.m., is designed for Local Food Producers. Ajay Nair, ISU Horticulture, Laura Krouse, Abbe Hills Farm and Jason Grimm, Iowa Valley RC&D Food Systems Planner will share tips and tools to help producers increase production, expand their markets and be best prepared for the 2014 growing season.

There will be a light meal from 4-5 p.m. for workshop participants. All are invited to attend one or both workshops.

Registration is required, space is limited. Register online by Dec. 1st at www.ivrcd.org. After Dec. 1st contact Dora Bopp at 319.622.3264 or dora@ivrcd.org for availability.

The IVRC&D is a non-profit organization that serves Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Linn, Poweshiek, Tama counties and the Meskwaki Settlement. Past and current IVRC&D projects include a Farm to School program, Iowa Valley Food Co-op, the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway and the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway, developing birding, paddler and outdoor guides, the Great Iowa River Canoe and Kayak Race and many services that include project development, planning and management; historical research, GIS analysis and mapping; and landscape design.