One Year In: Setting the Table, Building Momentum
Celebrating one year of action, advocacy, and growing the local food movement.
One year ago, we gathered on the Capitol lawn to launch Setting the Table for All Iowans — a comprehensive 10-year plan that asks: what if locally produced food was the norm? But that day wasn’t the beginning. It was a milestone in a longer movement: years of coalition building, hard conversations, and planning by people who believe Iowa can do better.
Since launching the plan, the Iowa Food System Coalition has only grown stronger. We’ve expanded our network to over 50 partner organizations, working across food access, farming, health, education, conservation, and economic development. Together, we’ve moved this vision from paper into practice.
Here’s what we’ve done together in just one year:
Brought farmers and partners to the Iowa Capitol — twice. We showed up to advocate for real investment in local food and rural communities, and made sure our voices were heard.
Hosted a Local Food Policy Summit, in partnership with Iowa Farmers Union. This event brought stakeholders together to build strategy and momentum around state-level policy.
Partnered with ISU for the the Grinnell Food & Farm Celebration, bringing attention to the economic and community power of Iowa-grown food.
Launched At the Iowa Farm Table, our podcast and storytelling platform featuring interviews, blog posts, and Side Dish live discussion — all designed to grow a statewide community around food system change.
Garnered bipartisan support and media attention from every corner of the state — a testament to the momentum behind this work and the broad appeal of a stronger local food economy.
Built a communications infrastructure with website updates, newsletter, storytelling campaigns, and toolkits like Bring Iowa Home for the Holidays and the Iowa Local Food Promise.
And all of this has happened alongside one year of leadership from Executive Director Chris Schwartz, who stepped into the role just before the plan’s release. His passion, experience, and relentless commitment to justice and community have helped bring cohesion and clarity to this work.
We’re proud of what we’ve built together in just one year… and we’re just getting started.
If you’ve been a part of this journey: thank you. If you’re new here: welcome. There’s a seat for you at the table.
Let’s keep going.