Who we are
The Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association was established in 1984 to promote the interests of fruit and vegetable growers of the state through meetings, access to information, research, networking and mentoring opportunities. The Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association continues to thrive and operates with a nine-member board. IFVGA remains an affiliate of its grandparent organization, the Iowa State Horticultural Society.
Featured
2021 IFVGA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner!
The 2021 IFVGA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Recipient was Ron and Becky Deardorff. Deardorff Sweetcorn, located near Adel, has been in business for over 35 years. Ron’s 2 sons are now taking over the business.
“Sweetcorn is a fun project and process. People look forward to the fresh, homegrown, Iowa sweetcorn in the summer. Over the years people have come to recognize our name and brand and know we have quality sweetcorn”, Ron Deardorff.
Congratulations to Ron and the late Becky Deardorff in honor of their many years of dedicated service and commitment to our organization and industry!
The 2021 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference was held virtually January 19-20, 2021. Registration is available for conference recordings. Visit www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com for more information.
Save-the-date! The 2022 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference is scheduled for February 9-10 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa.
News
Online Food Safety Training Available for Home-based Food Businesses in Iowa
As fall approaches, harvest season means that small farms will begin producing and selling their home-prepared foods. This part of the U.S. food supply chain is known as the cottage food industry and cottage food producers are subject to certain regulations. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers online training in food safety, food preparation and Iowa regulations designed specifically for cottage food producers. Learn more…
Specialty Crops Risk Management Webinars Available Online
The pandemic provided opportunity for specialty producers in Iowa to expand production and sales. However, managing risk for specialty production is critical to capitalizing on new market opportunities. The Small Farms division of Farm, Food and Enterprise Development of Iowa Sate University Extension sponsored a series of webinars for specialty crop producers in January, February and March 2021. They featured new tools and resources on how to manage risk. Learn more…
Des Moines Duo Raises Winning Giant Pumpkin at Iowa State Fair
A super-sized pumpkin tipping the scale at 915 pounds won first place in the 2021 Iowa State Fair Big Pumpkin Contest, judged Friday, Aug. 13. The growers, Don Young and his son-in-law Tommy Rhodes, of Des Moines, received a $1,850 cash award. Learn more…
September is National Fruits and Veggies month
It’s not really a coincidence that the Produce for Better Health Foundation recently named September as National Fruits and Veggies month in the United States. Summer is filled with colorful fruits and vegetables, from watermelon to melons, tomatoes to greens, and many more. It’s the season to indulge in foods that are tasty and good for you, too. Learn more…