Food Hub Managers Working Group

About

Iowa's Food Hub Managers Working Group (FHMWG) brings together dedicated food hub managers and partners from across Iowa who meet regularly to advance our shared mission and vision of building robust markets for local food and connecting more Iowans with high-quality products from our local produce, meat, dairy, egg, small grain and value-added producers.

  • FHMWG emerged as a community of practice in summer 2015, driven by a collective desire to learn from one another and strengthen Iowa's local and regional food system. From the beginning, our working group has been united by core values: collaboration, supporting local farmers' success, and tackling complex food system challenges together.

    In 2020, we transitioned to bi-weekly virtual meetings to address the operational challenges and evolving needs facing Iowa's food hub businesses. Through these collaborative sessions, members explore opportunities to enhance technical expertise in aggregation and distribution systems, expand local product sourcing, leverage funding opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and create new pathways for farmer growth.

  • To build the infrastructure and relationships for a more resilient and just local food system through aggregation, storage, distribution and marketing of local products in Iowa.

  • We believe that food hubs can become the backbone of a thriving, local food economy, but only if we openly and transparently collaborate, share best practices, and engage in financially sustainable transactions.

Food Hubs in Iowa

  • Michelle Dill
    510 Main Street, PO Box 13, Minden, IA 51553
    Email |Website
    Wes    tern and Central Iowa.
    Hub type: Hybrid
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, other value-added products.
    Services available to farmers: Sell product to hub, deliver to buyer.

  • James Nisly
    2316 133 St., Kalona, Iowa 52247
    (319) 656-3885
    Email | Website | Facebook page
    Serves Wa    shington, Johnson, Linn, Benton, Tama, Marshall, Story, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa, Keokuk, and Jefferson counties.
    Hub type: Wholesale/farm-to-institution
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables.
    Services available to farmers: Deliver to buyer.

  • Michelle Kenyon 
    1051 US-6 Iowa City, Iowa 52240
    (319) 855-2649
    Email |Website | Facebook page

    Serves Johnson, Linn, Benton, Tama, Powesheik, Iowa, Mahaska, Marion, Wapello, Jefferson, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine, Scott, and Cedar Counties.
    Hub type: Hybrid
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, other value-added products. 
    Services available to farmers: Sells product to hub and deliver products to buyers.

  • April Clark
    4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50310
    (515) 978-1034
    Email | Website | Facebook page
    Serves De    s Moines metro area (main pick-up site); additional pick-up sites in Albia, Ames, Ankeny, Indianola, Newton, Osceola, Panora, Pleasant Hill, and West Des Moines.
    Hub type: Retail or farm-to-consumer
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, other value-added products.
    Services available to farmers: Sell product to hub and deliver product to buyers.

  • Peter Kraus
    200 Railroad St. Decorah, Iowa 52101
    (563) 223-8845
    Email | Website
    Ser    ves Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek counties.
    Hub type: Wholesale/farm-to-institution
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, other value-added products.
    Services available to farmers: Sell product to hub, deliver products to buyers.

  • Chris Sporer
    512 10th Ave, Grinnell, Iowa 50112
    (540) 471-1647
    Email|Website|Facebook
    Serv    es Poweshiek, Jasper and Marshall counties.
    Hub type: Retail or farm-to-consumer.
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, other value-added products.
    Services available to farmers: Sell products to hub, deliver products to buyers.


  • Tony Thompson
    12806 NE 64th Street, Elkhart, IA 50073
    (515) 367-0302
    Email | Website
    Se    rves Polk, Story, Dallas, Warren, Jasper, Boone, Hamilton, Hardin, Franklin, Cerro Gordo counties.
    Hub type: Hybrid.
    Products sold: Fruits and vegetables, dairy, meat, eggs, other value-added products.
    Services available to farmers: Sells products to hub.

Projects and Impact

For stories about the FHMWG please visit our Substack

Iowa Food System Coalition leads statewide advocacy on behalf of the food hubs please visit IFSC’s website, subscribe to the newsletter, follow the blog and consider joining on as a partner organization. 

Contact Us

For questions about the Food Hub Managers Working Group, contact Senior Program Director Giselle Bruskewitz and for questions regarding wholesale and the Iowa Hub to Hub Network, please contact Value Chains Manager Phil Jahnke Sauer.