Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association Committed to Supporting Producers

AMES, Iowa – Recognizing the rising curiosity in specialty crops and specialty crop manufacturing, the state’s fruit and vegetable affiliation is taking over a brand new title and new look to raised serve Iowans in these industries.

The newly branded Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Affiliation will stick with it the identical duties of the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Affiliation – with a brand new title and a broader focus.

“We acknowledge the adjustments going down inside the Iowa fruit and vegetable business, and we’re altering our title to raised replicate what we do and who we function an affiliation,” stated Kendra Meyer, government secretary for the affiliation and program specialist with Iowa State College Extension and Outreach’s Farm, Meals and Enterprise Growth program.

“We’ll proceed the identical instructional outreach the affiliation has been identified for since its founding, however with renewed help for specialty crop growers and anybody concerned with these industries,” Meyer continued.

Meyer expects the title change will result in a development in membership, netting extra concepts and alternatives for Iowa’s specialty producers to community and be taught.

“To finest serve these wants, the affiliation has refocused and rebranded,” stated Maury Wills, affiliation president. “Manufacturing is ‘key’ and the Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Affiliation is devoted to aiding growers within the manufacturing of ample high-quality specialty crops. We encourage growers to contact the Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Affiliation to be taught extra.”

Along with instructional alternatives all year long, the affiliation holds the annual Iowa Specialty Producers Convention on the FFA Enrichment Middle in Ankeny. The 2023 convention is Feb. 22-23.

The imaginative and prescient of the Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Affiliation is to offer instructional alternatives and help the success of fruit, vegetable and specialty crop producers.

Roles of the affiliation embrace:

• Offering help, data and schooling for growers on manufacturing/advertising.
• Serving to members/growers transfer into sustainability by way of financial and finest administration practices.
• Selling the Iowa specialty crop business to customers and policymakers.
• Advocating and being a voice for Iowa specialty crop producers.
• Selling the help, well being and well-being to the final group/financial system by offering wholesome, contemporary and native crops and produce.

Shareable picture: Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Affiliation brand.