The Cass County ISU Extension Office says efforts are currently underway to strengthen and build on the long and strong historical presence local food and agriculture has had in Cass County. In late 2015, Cass County Extension and the Cass County Local Food Policy Council began a collaboration through a grant project in partnership with the ISU Community Design Lab, ISU Extension and Outreach and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The group has been building a comprehensive history of local food and agriculture activities and working to identify interested partners.

In the spring of 2016, the group began formally working together as the Cass County Food System Action Coalition. The goal of this newly-formed coalition is to identify current ag-related resources and needs to make fresh, local food products more widely available to residents. The process involves community networking, analysis of local data, public input session, project prioritization and design implementation and documentation.

Depending on the community, the process might result in more community or school gardens, establishment of a CSA or food box program, the addition of edible plants to existing parks or public spaces, or new facilities where farmers and entrepreneurs can process food.

The local coalition of partners is now looking for input from local residents about their food systems. Several dates have been set at local events where residents are invited to come and share their food stories, discuss the changes they’d like to see, and explore new ways to increase food access in Cass County. Members will be available this Saturday, July 16^th, from 9 AM to Noon at the Atlantic Farmers Market in the Orscheln’s parking lot, and on Monday, July 18^th from 4 to 6:30 PM at the Anita Farmers Market at the bandshell park. Organizers expect additional dates to be added in communities around the county in August.

The coalition is also still looking for steering committee members, as well as folks who are interested in participating in special projects as they develop. For more information or to get involved in the project, visit the Cass County Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, call the Cass County Extension office at 712-243-1132 or email Program Coordinator Kate Olson at keolson@iastate.edu.