Horticulture Program

Practical Farmers of Iowa boasts an active and growing group of specialty crop farmers. These farmers are growing the best fruits and vegetables conceivable, and are serious about doing so well. Fruit and vegetable farmers are innovative in their marketing and cultural practices. Our fruit and vegetable producers strive to make their enterprises profitable while protecting the environment and enhancing local communities.

Fruit and vegetable producers have provided input on their programming and research priorities for 2012. Practical Farmers is busy planning on-farm research, field days, farminars, workshops and newsletter articles to address these priorities. Our blog provides summaries from last year's field days.  Our annual conference page provides summaries of some of the horticulture workshops.

2013 Guide to Central Iowa CSAs

Looking to join a CSA? Look no further than our Guide to Central Iowa CSAs, which features details about twelve different CSA options, including share price, pickup locations, farm descriptions, and contact information.

CSA Retention Report

CSA farms have experienced lower retention rates in the past few years. Three PFI member CSA farms asked Practical Farmers to conduct a third-party survey of non-renewing members to investigate why they haven’t returned. Check out the final report, or read the raw survey results and comments.

Scaling Up Report

Practical Farmers of Iowa has identified several barriers to successfully maintaining and growing a wholesale market for fruits and vegetables in Iowa. Based on buyer and grower feedback, this report outlines strategies to overcome these barriers. The report was funded by a $5,000 grant from the Local Food and Farm Initiative, a statewide program led by Craig Chase, interim Marketing and Food Systems Initiative program leader for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University.

Farmer's Market Goal Worksheet

This spreadsheet corresponds to the Spring 2012 newsletter article: "Set goals to improve your farmer's market sales." There are multiple tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet to navigate between. Some boxes are filled in to provide examples. Boxes outlined in red are those where you can input your numbers. Ones not outlined in red are connected to formulas in the spreadsheet so do not require input. If you would like more information about this spreadhseet, contact Sally Worley.

Research & Demonstration