Iowa valley RCD will bolster farmer business stability and expand market access through the fresh connect CSA voucher program and farmer business coaching program

This initiative will implement a 2YEAR pilot CSA voucher program involving 200 university of iowa employees and eight CSA farms gauging the growth of the CSA market for farms and providing new markets for beginning farmers. Activities include expanding beginning and direct market farms knowledge of their farms financial and marketing skills through a business coaching program for 18 farms to improve their direct marketing skills through farmers markets csas and farm stands. Participants expect increased farm visibility and sales to a greater number of consumers engaging in the purchase of locally grown producebenefiting iowa farmers and university of iowa employees and consumers seeking access to fresh locally sourced food with these direct producertoconsumer sales channels. The pilot will result in a published case study report and business plan for the voucher program to provide best practices and a model for future implementation.