At the National Agricultural Marketing Summit, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach secured recognition for its Farm, Food, and Enterprise Development program. The accolade, a second runner-up position for the Farm Credit MarketMaker Innovation Award, celebrates their innovative use of MarketMaker.
MarketMaker, an interactive platform, serves as a hub linking producers, processors, buyers, and consumers. With a presence in 26 states, including Iowa, it offers a comprehensive food directory and marketing resource.
Louisiana State University Ag Center clinched the top honor for its digital outreach in the Louisiana Farm to School Program, while the University of Illinois and Google stood as the first runner-up for their Harvest Hub App development.
The second runner-up recognition went to the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition and Iowa State's program for their collaboration in leveraging MarketMaker. Together, they established a virtual farmers market post-devastating hurricanes, aiding over 350 small farms in the territory. Sommer Sibilly-Brown and Courtney Long accepted the award, highlighting their resilient efforts since 2017.
The partnership initially aimed to support food systems in the US Virgin Islands. Hurricanes Irma and Maria spurred additional initiatives, including certifications, assessments, and a Farmer Preparedness Checklist. Ongoing research from 2021 to 2022 examined the impacts of natural disasters and COVID-19 on the territory's food systems, detailed in the Territory of the Virgin Islands Food Systems Resilience report.
This recognition encapsulates the strides made in mapping, raising awareness, and marketing local and regional farm businesses, underscoring the collaborative efforts between Iowa State and USVI.
Photo Credit: agricultural-innovations
Categories: Iowa, Business