Iowa ranks sixth in the nation for growing organic foods, according to the Iowa Organic Association (IOA), yet only one percent of the state’s overall agriculture production comes from organic farms.
In an effort to get more organic farmers certified, Kalona will serve as a host for a “Growing Organic Expertise in Iowa” regional workshop via Zoom this Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m. IOA Organic Field Coordinator Olga Reding says there’s untapped potential for organic farmers, especially among millennials, “Millennials as an age group, as a population, are the largest decision makers as far as buying power is concerned and as soon as millennials become parents, they don’t waiver on organic for their children. Organic is very important to them and 80 percent choose organic for their children.”
Among the workshop presenters are Kim Anderson and Nelson Smith who have organic farm operations in the Brighton area. Reding says the workshop is free and while no pre-registration is required, attendees are asked to RSVP to give organizers a head count.