Assessing the Market Potential of Specialty Forest Products in Local Food Systems of Iowa

--Carole Teator, Trees Forever Project Development Director

A presentation for The Association for Temperate Agroforestry

Ninth North American Agroforestry Conference – “Moving Agroforestry into the Mainstream”

June 12-15, 2005 Rochester, Minnesota

The Trees Forever Mission

To plant and care for To plant and care for trees trees

and the environment by and the environment by empowering people, empowering people,

building community and building community and promoting stewardship.promoting stewardship.

15 Years of Award-Winning Programs

• Founded in 1989 by two volunteers

• Nonprofit organization• Staff of 18 in Iowa and Illinois• Headquartered in Iowa

Major Program Areas

• Community and Urban ForestryCommunity and Urban Forestry• Transportation Corridor Transportation Corridor

EnhancementsEnhancements• Streamside Buffers and Water QualityStreamside Buffers and Water Quality• National Educational ProjectsNational Educational Projects

Improving Water Qualityin Iowa and Illinois

• 1,292,000 trees and shrubs 1,292,000 trees and shrubs planted for buffers and in planted for buffers and in wetlandswetlands

• 30,042 30,042 volunteer volunteer hours hours contributedcontributed

Agroforestry efforts

Trees Forever is seeking to:

• increase the adoption of agroforestry practices to complement more conventional agriculture in Iowa and Illinois

• build partnerships

• distribute our new coloring book!

Study made possible by a grant from the

Leopold Center for Sustainable AgricultureEstablished by 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act to support the development of profitable farming practices that conserve natural resources.

Surveys conducted by Trees Forever’sRoger Hunt,

Jo Ann McNiel, and Carole Teator

Purpose of Study

To build the case for agroforestry

as a way to diversify farm

crops and income sources for small-

to mid-sized farmers.

Different from other studies conducted in the Midwest

Focused on market potential within already developing local

food chains.

Premise of Study

• Trees Forever’s own network of landowners participating in Working Watersheds: Buffers and Beyond Program.

• Several producers already marketing produce within local food system networks; SFPs can be an opportunity to expand their crops and seasons.

• Wholesale produce auctions potential venue for marketing SFPs.

Premise of Study

Tapping Into Established Networks

Local Food Systems

• Iowa leads the nation in the number of farmers’ markets and has a healthy number of Community Supported Agriculture operations (CSAs).

• Groups supporting these producers:

• Iowa Network for Community Agriculture

• Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture—Regional Food Systems Working Group

• Practical Farmers of Iowa

A snapshot study in north central and southeastern Iowa of growers and buyers of non-timber specialty forest products (such as fruit, nuts, woody decorative florals).

Scope of Study

Producers• Interviewed 21 growers.• Farm sizes ranged from 1½ acres to 415 acres.• Larger operators saw agroforestry practices as a

way to provide habitat, conserve and stabilize soil, and improve farm aesthetics.

• Smaller producers planted woody perennials primarily to stabilize soil, with additional interest in diversifying crops and extending their seasons.

• Few developed marketing research—some cited pull of CSA requests or agritainment opportunities.

Participants and products

• Buyers• Interviewed 15 buyers.• Some cited local products as commanding a

premium . . . if they are well-labeled.• Some saw local products as less expensive.• All concerned about the quality of products,

reliability of delivery, and “competitive pricing.”

• Most defined the latter as “free.”

Participants and products

Products

Edible Crops Being Marketed

01234

Buttern

ut

Chestnut

Black W

alnut

Map

le (s

yrup)

Raspber

ries (

varie

ty)

Mulb

errie

s

Gooseber

ries

Blueber

ries

Currants

Types of Crops

Nu

mb

er

of

Gro

we

rs

Products

Woody Floral Products Being Marketed

01234

Curly

Willo

w

Pussy W

illow

Bitters

weet

Pineco

nes

Snowber

ry

Dogwoo

d

Holida

y Gre

ens

Christ

mas T

rees

Types of crops

Nu

mb

er o

f G

row

ers

Needs Cited by Producers• Growers expressed a

need for assistance with the marketing and distribution of non-timber forest products.

• Many suggested the need for cooperatives and brokers.

• Successful case study: Southeast Iowa Nut Growers Cooperative

•Growers are growing as much as they want to; buyers want more supply. There’s room in the market for more growers.

•There’s a large gap between research/experience and producers and small retail buyers.

Results

These crops:–Diversify farm operations;–Improve wildlife habitat; and–Provide opportunities for recreation, community, and local and regional ecological enhancement.

Take-home Message

More education and outreach is needed about growing and marketing niche tree crops.

Thank you.