The Graduate Program and Sustainable Agriculture invites you to join us for:

"Envisioning Local Food in Iowa"

with 

Tony Thompson

Prudent Produce

Elkhart, Iowa

Tony will share insights and reflections on local food in Iowa from his own journey and return to his family's century farm, including some insights into the challenges and opportunities of operating a private food hub. Based on these, he will ask some thought-provoking questions regarding a vision for what local foods in Iowa could look like in future generations. 

When Dr. Tony Thompson's family stopped farming during the 1980's farm crisis, he had little idea that he'd find himself back on the farm 30 years later with a goal of earning a living from the same land his grandparents had earned their living from. However, after some global adventures including a PhD in Sustainable Product Innovation from a Swedish University, Tony found himself exactly there: operating a CSA in 2014 and 2015 on his family's land, which then morphed into one of Iowa's leading food hubs in the form of Prudent Produce. Prudent Produce sources foods from scores of Iowa producers and from around the country in order to make year-round deliveries to its 600 central Iowa customers.

Pre-work for participants:

1. Think about your food-buying experience at Wheatsfield Coop, Prudent Produce, your favorite CSA farm, the Iowa Food Coop, Hy-Vee, and Target. 

2. What do you like about each experience? What do you wish were different in each experience? 

3. What do you imagine life is like for the producers who sell their food through each of those?

Wednesday, April 7 - Online Meeting

3:10 - 4:15 p.m. Presentation with Q&A Session

WebEx Link: https://iastate.webex.com/iastate/j.php?MTID=mbcdc8bfe2833dd0705ff1ae84…

Password: SUSAG600

Those not enrolled in SUSAG 600 may request to attend. Please send an RSVP to kellis@iastate.edu