FAHWG Calendar

2012 FAHWG Gatherings

April 13, 2012 Spring Gathering, Cedar Falls Visitor Center, Cedar Falls (Register)

July 20, 2012 Summer Gathering, Iowa Arboretum, Madrid (Register)

October 12, 2012 Fall Gathering, TBD

 

FAHWG Winter Webinar Series

March 22, 2012 - Growing Solutions: Food Gardening to Advance Food Security and Health Part 2 (Recording, MacDougall Slides, Ehrens Slides, Costello Slides)

February 9, 2012 - Growing Solutions: Food Gardening to Advance Food Security and Health Part 1 (Hayden-Smith Slides; Doiron Slides, Doiron TEDx Talk)

January 12, 2012 Readiness: Using Social Media to Advance Food Access, Nutrition & Health Messages (slides)

 

Food Access & Health Working Group

FAHWG Brochure

The destiny of Iowa is greatly dependent on how we nourish ourselves. How Iowa feeds its people, especially children, determines the health, economic, ecological and social capacity to support future generations. The health of Iowans depends on a food system that makes healthful food the easiest choices.

Launched in March 2010, the Iowa Food Access & Health Working Group (FAHWG) is a statewide network of food and nutrition assistance program providers, health professionals and food system stakeholders focused on cultivating a just and diverse food system that eliminates hunger, increases access to nutritious food and advances the health of all Iowans. The goals of FAHWG are to develop and recommend program, research and policy options which support systems that produce safe and nutritious food for healthier Iowans and to strengthen food access and self-reliance among all eaters and communities in Iowa.

Objectives.  The objectives of the FAHWG are to:

  1. Increase communication, coordination and collaboration among a statewide network of food access, nutrition and health experts.
  2. Assess and monitor food access, health and food system indicators as a basis to develop and recommend research, program and policy strategies for advancing food and nutrition assistance programs and public health initiatives that support community-based food system efforts.  This includes promoting innovative strategies for connecting low-resource households with healthy, affordable and locally-grown food.
  3. Function as an information clearinghouse including statewide food security and health knowledge and expertise, programs and research opportunities.
  4. Leverage funding and resources from private and public sectors for research, programs and policies that increase Iowans’ access to healthy, affordable and locally-grown food.

Partners. The FAHWG is championed by a Leadership Team and FAHWG partners include the Iowa Food Bank Association; Des Moines Area Religious Council; Iowa Department of Public Health; Iowa Department of Education; Iowa Department on Aging; Iowa Department of Human Services; Iowa Workforce Development; Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals; Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; Iowa State University and Iowa State University Extension; Iowa Center on Health Disparities at the University of Northern Iowa; Local Foods Connection; Table to Table, World Food Prize, and FoodCorps.

Impacts. FAHWG partners have gathered on a quarterly basis since March 2010 and have developed a logo, goal statement, and were instrumental in identifying indicators and recommendations for Cultivating Resilience. Some of the recommendations include:

  • Implement solutions to assure maximum safety of foods produced in Iowa.
  • Assess and develop sample ordinances for adoption by Iowa municipalities and counties that support urban farms and backyard, school and community gardens, orchards.
  • Assess, develop and adopt policies and programs that increase Iowan's access to farmers' markets and healthy Iowa-produced food and create economic opportunities for Iowa food producers and retailers.
  • Establish an Iowa healthy food retail initiative to increase availability of fruits and vegetables in grocery and convenience stores.
  • Assess, develop and adopt strategies to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets by low-income Iowans.

The Forum. The FAHWG Forum is a periodic electronic newsletter highlighting the latest in food security, health, nutrition policy and local food systems (archives).

Support. FAHWG is a subgroup of the Iowa Food Systems Council and began as emerging group within the Iowa-Based Network for Food and Agriculture Working Groups of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Funding for the launch of the FAHWG has been provided by The Wellmark Foundation, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. 

Contact. For more information contact Angie Tagtow, FAHWG Convener, (515) 669-8579, angie (dot) tagtow (at) mac (dot) com