Iowa State University
( Ames IA 50010 )
Contact Name:
Sue DeBlieck
Contact Title:
Farm to ISU Coordinator
Telephone:
(515) 294-2892
E-Mail:
susandeb@iastate.edu
Program Web Site:
http://www.dining.iastate.edu/farm_to_isu.php
Who was most responsible for initiating your farm-to-college program?

Cooperative extension agent(s)

University administrator(s)

Dining/food services personnel
In what year did the program begin?

Other, please specify:
Are students actively involved in maintaining the program?

yes
How are the students involved in the program?

Researching costs/benefits of local purchasing

Researching availability of local products

Promotional/educational outreach

Member of project planning/advisory committee
In what ways, if any, would you like students to be involved in the program?

Coordinating purchase/delivery of products

Work in campus/student farm or garden

Menu/event planning
What role, if any, have cooperative extension agents or other agency/agricultural professionals played in the farm-to-college program?

Resource/contact person

Stimulating interest and/or disseminating information (i.e., outreach)
What role, if any, would be useful for cooperative extension agents or other agency/agricultural professionals to play in the farm-to-college program?

Resource/contact person

Stimulating interest and/or disseminating information (i.e., outreach)
Who runs/is primarily responsible for the farm-to-college program? (please choose primary person/group in charge)

Student
Where do the majority of your locally purchased farm products come from?

50-200 miles
Are any of these local food products organically grown?

yes

yes
Approximately how much, in dollars, does dining/food services spend annually on local farm products?

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify:
What is the approximate total number of individual farmers you purchase products from during an entire calendar year?

More than 20 farmers

More than 20 farmers
Who/where are local products purchased from?

Broker(s)

Farmer-managed cooperative(s)

Distributor(s)

Individual farmer(s)
Are local food products used in...

Catering

Convenience store items

Regular menus

Special events

Other, please specify:
Was external funding or other resources (grants, equipment, etc.) used to...

Start the program
If you have received external funding or other resources for the program, what is/was your source?

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify:
Have any of the following individuals or groups been directly involved in development, coordination, education or promotion related to the farm-to-college program?

Campus sustainability center(s)

Faculty member(s)

Farmer association(s)
Is there a local farmer's organization (i.e., a cooperative) involved in your program that was in place prior to the program's start?

Other, please specify:
Have you used any of the following to promote the program or enhance its educational value?

Farm tours

Press releases

Web site
What, if any, other environmental initiatives on your campus are connected with the farm-to-college program?

Composting program
Are there any bidding requirements for purchasing local food?

yes

yes
Do local products cost more on average?

yes

yes
If yes, how do you manage the higher price?

Pass cost directly on to consumer

Reduce costs elsewhere to make up the difference
What do you see as the most significant barriers to starting or sustaining farm-to-college programs?

Product price

Retraining kitchen staff

Getting administrative support
What do you see as the most significant benefits from farm-to-college programs?

Higher quality food

Supporting local farmers, community and/or economy
Of the following policy issues, please choose up to two, if any, that you believe would provide the most significant support for farm-to-college programs:

Grants/subsidies to help farmers organize cooperatives

Grants/subsidies to help dining/food services offset extra costs
What strategies, if any, do you recommend for making farm-to-college programs work?

Engage students in program activities (i.e., research, creating promotional materials)

Promote the project in as many ways as possible to the campus/local community
What resources, research, or contacts, if any, were useful for starting or expanding your farm-to-college program?

Buy Local Food and Farm Toolkit: A Guide for Student Organizers (Oxfam America)

Farmtocollege.org Web site

Iowa State University Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Selling to Institutions: An Iowa Farmer's Guide (Robert Luedeman & Neil D. Hamilton)
Is dining/food services:

Self-operated

Self-operated
Total number of individual meals served daily in locations operated by dining/food services:

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify:
Does food services use a (please choose most appropriate answer):

Meal (board) plan

Meal (board) plan
What is dining/food services' approximate annual budget for food?

Other, please specify:

Other, please specify: