Iowa Community

Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative Vision

Where healthier people make stronger families and vibrant communities, and all residents and guests experience, celebrate and promote healthy, locally grown food with abundant opportunities for physical activity and play EVERY DAY.

About NE Iowa

This geographically vast five-county region is located in our nation's agricultural heartland. The thousands of farming families residing in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard and Winneshiek counties contribute significantly to the nation's agricultural industry. Yet operations are challenged by the ever changing political and economic climate for farming that is influenced by a range of issues-from increased agricultural industrialization to the flight of community youth to larger, urban cities. While most family farms have adapted to feed a widespread national food system, many of the towns throughout this hilly corner of northern Iowa have fewer than 300 residents and struggle with rural isolation.

The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative is focused on increasing the affordability and convenience of locally grown, healthy food, while promoting opportunities for physical activity that fit rural lifestyles and livelihoods. As primary modes of transportation, riding a bike or walking are difficult due to the expansive geography and lack of supportive infrastructure. Moreover, farmers are less likely to participate in fitness and exercise after spending a day performing physical labor.

Despite these challenges, northeast Iowans are already working to initiate change in their communities. From increased funding of indoor recreation facilities to "local food" identification tags and a Luther College initiative to get fresh, local foods into school cafeterias, the Initiative is committed to sustaining the health of the land and community members, while increasing the economic viability of its agricultural communities.