Your May 2021 ISU FFED NEWS BITES

New produce safety tool, upcoming food systems certification, and more!

News, resources and tools for your work with small farms, food systems and business development. View this email in your browser May 2021 The Farm, Food and Enterprise Development Program at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is here to support farms, food systems and business development across the state of Iowa. Our monthly newsletter features articles and information on projects, events and resources to support you in your work. Have a story suggestion for an upcoming newsletter? Need information on a topic? Email us! Growing Small-Scale Produce Processing A mobile produce processing cart could help Iowa's food businesses continue selling fresh, local produce into the winter months. Learn more about an ongoing research project into the possibility. Read more Learn Agri-Tourism Risk Management Online Producers can learn practical management techniques to enhance the safety and health of their on-farm visitors through a new free on-line course. The course takes about 8 hours over 3 months. Read more Companion Tool for Fresh Produce Buyers Institutional buyers of fresh, whole produce have a new tool to help evaluate the food safety practices on the farms that supply them. "Evaluating the Retail Checklist" is a companion to an existing tool. Read more Upcoming Events May 6—Iowa Regional Food System Working Group quarterly meeting [virtual], 10 a.m. to noon. Hear local food updates from across Iowa and network with other food systems practitioners. All are welcome. May 19—"Growing Up Wild: Reconnecting Children with Nature" [virtual], 6 to 9 p.m. Professional development opportunity for caregivers working with kids 3-7, sponsored by ISU Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Register by May 5. May 28—deadline to register for ISU Community Food Systems certification. Food systems practitioners nationwide can ramp up their skills entirely online. See this link for the full ISU Extension and Outreach calendar of events. Featured Resource Getting Your New Business Idea Funded   This publication discusses new business funding, its risks, to-do's to prepare, and what lenders evaluate when assessing borrowers, including an overview of "The 5 Cs": character, conditions, capital, collateral and capacity. Free PDF download. 5 pp. Author Craig Chase. About us     |     Our publications     |    Latest news  |     Our newsletters Copyright © 2021 ISU Extension and Outreach FFED, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you are interested in small farms, food systems and business development in Iowa. Our mailing address is: ISU Extension and Outreach FFED 2625 N. Loop Dr., Ste. 2430 Ames, IA 50010 Add us to your address book Forward this newsletter to a friend by clicking this link. Subscribe to the newsletter at this link. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext. Policies.