By Andi Anderson
Food hubs across Iowa played a major role in strengthening the local food system in 2024, according to the 2024 Food Hub Impact Report released by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. These hubs helped connect over 450 farms and food businesses with customers, selling more than $4.3 million in local food.
Food hubs serve as a vital link between small farms and consumers by offering services like aggregation, distribution, and marketing. Most producers were from Iowa, though partnerships also extended to Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
"2024 was a fantastic year of growth for Iowa’s local food system," said Teresa Wiemerslage, the report's author and field specialist with ISU Extension. The $4.3 million in sales marks an 11% increase from 2023, with customers in 68 of Iowa’s 99 counties.
Seven food hubs contributed to this report. These hubs are part of a working group formed in 2015 to support food system infrastructure. Beyond food sales, the hubs offered nearly $90,000 in services like delivery, cold storage, and online marketing.
The largest customer group was the farm-to-cafeteria network, connecting food from local farms to over 200 schools, colleges, and childcare centers. Though participation dropped by 26% from the previous year due to the end of the Local Food for Schools program, the impact remained significant.
Food hubs also partnered with over 120 food access groups, such as food banks and pantries, using funds from the Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance program to ensure fresh produce reached those in need.
In 2024, hubs also sold $330,000 worth of products to each other through the Iowa Hub to Hub Network to fill supply gaps and expand offerings. Six hubs received USDA grants to improve storage and delivery infrastructure.
Despite strong 2024 outcomes, upcoming federal funding cuts may challenge 2025 growth.
Photo Credit: iowa-state-university
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle