CHAPTER 267A
LOCAL FOOD AND FARM PROGRAM

  
     
267A.1  Purpose and goals.
  1.  The purpose of this chapter is to empower farmers and food entrepreneurs to provide for strong local food economies that promote self-sufficiency and job growth in the agricultural sector and allied sectors of the economy. 
  2.  The goals of this chapter are to accomplish all of the following:
  a.  Promote the expansion of the production of local foods, including all of the following:
  (1)  The production of Iowa-grown food, including but not limited to livestock, eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, grains, herbs, honey, and nuts.
  (2)  The processing of Iowa-grown agricultural products into food products, including canning, freezing, dehydrating, bottling, or otherwise packaging and preserving such products.
  (3)  The distribution and marketing of fresh and processed Iowa-grown agricultural food products to markets in this state and neighboring states.
  b.  Increase consumer and institutional spending on Iowa-produced and marketed foods.
  c.  Increase the profitability of farmers and businesses engaged in enterprises related to producing, processing, distributing, and marketing local food.
  d.  Increase the number of jobs in this state’s farm and business economies associated with producing, processing, distributing, and marketing local food.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §27, 60
Referred to in §267A.3, 267A.5, 267A.6

     
267A.2  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Coordinator” means the local food and farm program coordinator created in section 267A.4.
  2.  “Council” means the local food and farm program council established in section 267A.3.
  3.  “Department” means the department of agriculture and land stewardship.
  4.  “Fund” means the local food and farm program fund created in section 267A.5.
  5.  “Secretary” means the secretary of agriculture.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §28, 60; 2012 Acts, ch 1021, §60; 2022 Acts, ch 1152, §27

     
267A.3  Local food and farm program council.
  1.  A local food and farm program council is established to advise the local food and farm program coordinator carrying out the purpose and goals of this chapter as provided in section 267A.1.
  2.  The council shall be composed of the following voting members:
  a.  The secretary or the secretary’s designee.
  b.  The following persons appointed by the secretary:
  (1)  Four farmers each of whom shall produce an agricultural commodity in this state used to prepare or process a local food. A farmer must be actively engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity that is prepared or processed into the local food. The secretary must appoint farmers actively engaged in producing each of the following:
  (a)  Livestock used to produce meat products.
  (b)  Poultry used to produce poultry products.
  (c)  Dairy animals used to produce milk and dairy products.
  (d)  Fruit or vegetables to be washed or to be produced, cut, canned, or otherwise processed into products.
  (2)  Two managers of firms each of whom shall represent different types of processors of agricultural commodities doing business in this state. A manager shall be actively engaged in the purchase of agricultural commodities from farmers, the preparation or processing of those commodities into local food, and the resale of the local food to distributors on a wholesale basis in this state. The secretary must appoint managers actively engaged in the sale of the following:
  (a)  Meat products, poultry products, or milk or dairy products.
  (b)  Fruits or vegetables, fruit products, or vegetable products.
  (3)  One manager of a wholesale distributor of local food doing business in this state. The manager must be actively engaged in the purchase of local food prepared or processed from agricultural commodities by processors, and in the marketing of local food on a wholesale basis to food establishments in this state.
  (4)  Three managers of food establishments doing business in this state. Each manager must be actively engaged in the purchase of local food prepared or processed from agricultural commodities produced in this state, the purchase of the local food from wholesale distributors, and the marketing or distribution of the local food to consumers in this state. The secretary must appoint managers actively engaged in the operation of the following:
  (a)  A grocery store.
  (b)  A food service provider distributing food to any of the following:
  (i)  Students attending a public or private school from kindergarten through grade twelve.
  (ii)  Children attending a center for early education.
  (c)  A food service provider distributing local food to an institution not attended by children.
  (5)  Two heads of local or regional community food organizations doing business in this state. Each head must be actively engaged in promoting the well-being of Iowans through the distribution of local food prepared or processed from agricultural commodities produced in this state.
  (6)  An attorney practicing in areas of food and agricultural law.
  (7)  An employee of a government entity who specializes in nutrition programs.
  3.  The secretary may invite interested organizations to submit nominations of candidates eligible to be appointed to the council. A designee of the secretary or a member appointed by the secretary serves at the pleasure of the secretary.
  4.  The council shall be part of the department. The department shall perform administrative functions necessary for the operation of the council.
  5.  The council shall elect a chairperson from among its members each year on a rotating basis as provided by the council. The council shall meet on a regular basis and at the call of the chairperson or upon the written request to the chairperson of a majority of the members.
  6.  The members of the council shall not receive compensation for their services including as provided in section 7E.6. However, the members may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members of the council if allowed by the council. 
  7.  A majority of the members constitutes a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present is necessary for any substantive action to be taken by the council. The majority shall not include any member who has a conflict of interest and a statement by a member that the member has a conflict of interest is conclusive for this purpose. A vacancy in the membership does not impair the duties of the council.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §29, 60; 2022 Acts, ch 1152, §28
Referred to in §267A.2

  
     
267A.4  Local food and farm program coordinator.
  The position of local food and farm program coordinator is created within Iowa state university as part of its cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics. The coordinator shall be the primary state official charged with carrying out the purposes and goals of this chapter.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §30, 60
Referred to in §267A.2
For cost-sharing agreement between department of agriculture and land stewardship and Iowa state university to support local food and farm program coordinator position, see appropriations and other noncodified enactments in the annual Acts of the general assembly

     
267A.5  Local food and farm program fund.
  A local food and farm program fund is created in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund is separate from the general fund of the state. The fund is composed of moneys appropriated by the general assembly and moneys available to and obtained or accepted by the local food and farm program from the United States government or private sources for placement in the fund. Moneys in the fund shall be used to carry out the purpose and goals of this chapter as provided in section 267A.1, including but not limited to administering the local food and farm program as provided in section 267A.6. The fund shall be managed by the department in consultation with the local food and farm coordinator, under the supervision of the local food and farm program council.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §31, 60
Referred to in §267A.2

  
     
267A.6  Local food and farm program.
  1.  The local food and farm program coordinator, with advice from the local food and farm program council, shall develop and administer a local food and farm program necessary to carry out the purpose and goals of this chapter as provided in section 267A.1.
  2.  In administering the program, the coordinator may sponsor and fund projects that do any of the following:
  a.  Improve communication and cooperation between and among farmers, food entrepreneurs, and consumers.
  b.  Improve communication between and among government agencies, public universities and community colleges, organizations, and private-sector firms working on local food and farm-related issues.
  c.  Demonstrate the value of processing, distributing, and marketing local foods. A demonstration project must be capable of being replicated on a statewide basis.
2011 Acts, ch 128, §32, 60; 2022 Acts, ch 1152, §29
Referred to in §267A.5

267A.7  Local food and farm program report.  Repealed by 2020 Acts, ch 1045, §25.