Overview
The Iowa Food Coop only sells products that are made in Iowa. We do this via an order and delivery system based on this website and a network of members. We currently have a once-a-month ordering and delivery cycle, which is described in more detail below. Our initial distribution site will be retail space at Merle Hay Mall in Des Moines. Plans are to add additional distribution sites as the cooperative grows.
To be a part of the Iowa Food Cooperative, producers and consumers first need to become members. The fee to become a member is $50. After the first year, there is also an annual fee of $10, which is used for educational activities.
The IFC also has a category of membership called Founding Members for
people who want to provide a higher level of support. The fee for Founding
Members is $250, but the annual $10 fee will be waived. Note that, except
for the annual fee, Founding Members will be treated like every other
member.
There are handling fees on transactions that are used to pay for services the coop performs to help its members buy and sell from each other. The fee is 10% for farmers and 10% for consumers. This means that if a farmer sells $100 worth of product, a fee of $10 will be subtracted from their check, and if a consumer buys $100 worth of product, a fee of $10 will be added to their invoice.
During the ordering period, members can log-on and shop by placing products in their shopping cart. The amount of product available is set by the producer, with these products available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once a product is put in your cart, it stays there until the order cycle closes unless you remove it. When the ordering window is closed on the second Thursday, your order is fixed. There is no checkout or payment at this time.
After the order cycle closes, the producers are sent information on who ordered what products. The producers then upload weights of products that can vary (such as beef roasts, whole chickens, etc.) and prices are finalized.
On the morning of the designated delivery day, all ordered products are delivered to the retail space in the Merle Hay Mall. The products are checked in, and placed on shelves or in refrigerators or freezers as appropriate. In the late afternoon and early evening, members pick up their orders at the Iowa Food Coop location in Merle Hay Mall and pay for their products.
Who can be a part of the Cooperative?
Farmers, niche market entrepreneurs and consumers may join the cooperative as sellers, buyers or both. All members have equal voting privileges.
As a consumer, why should I join the coop?
- Convenient access to a wide variety of healthy, fresh, frozen, and processed food and non-food products grown and/or produced in Iowa.
- Shop product offerings from multiple producers to compare prices, types, and the production practices used by each producer to find a product that meets your needs.
- Increased access to foods that meet your personal preferences regarding production practices.
- Acquire a better knowledge of where your food comes from and establish relationships with the people that produce it.
- Support Iowa’s rural economy.
- Support farming practices that embrace social and environmental sustainability.
As a producer, why should I join the coop?
- Create an identity in a new market, thus adding new sources of revenue into your business.
- Set your own prices.
- Benefit from the marketing activities of the Iowa Food Cooperative.
- Reduce the time and cost of marketing and distributing your products to consumers.
- Work alongside other area consumers and other producers to increase awareness, availability and quality of local food.
- Directly contribute to the economic growth of your community.
What area will the coop serve?
The coop’s target service area will be the Des Moines Metro Area. Expansion to other areas is one of our future goals. Currently there is only one pick-up site available located at Merle Hay Mall.
What kind of food and/or products will be sold?
A wide variety of food and non-food items will be offered through the Iowa Food Cooperative. While many products will be offered each order cycle, others may be offered based on availability and seasonality of the product. In all cases, the product was grown or produced in Iowa. See the Producer Standards Page for a complete set of standards for who can sell what products through the IFC.
How will ordering and delivery take place through the cooperative?
The cooperative will primarily use a web-based ordering system. Delivery and distribution will occur at one drop site located at Merle Hay Mall. Additional delivery locations will be explored in the future.
What is the membership fee for the Iowa Food Cooperative?
$50 one-time membership fee, with an additional annual $10 fee starting in year two, for use for educational and outreach purposes
