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Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

3 days ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
An increasing number of customers are bringing animals with them when they visit farm markets, pick your own farms, or agritainment activities. Animals can pose a food safety risk to produce, introduce disease to farm animals, frighten or upset farm animals, employees and other market customers and farm visitors. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) governs what you are legally allowed to do in regards to customers with service animals visiting your market or on your farm. These resources cover the specifics of the ADA, animals that are not protected by the ADA regulations, and how to reduce potential risk on your farm from outside animals. foodsafetyclearinghouse.org/resources/regulations-impacting-farms-about-service-comfort-and-emoti... ... See MoreSee Less

Regulations impacting farms about service, comfort, and emotional support animals | Food Safety Resource Clearinghouse

foodsafetyclearinghouse.org

Added by Meredith Melendez • Last updated February 11, 2020 Author: Meredith Melendez Type: Tools & Calculators, Fact Sheets, Poster Topic: General (PSR), Produce Safety Rule (PSR), Worker Health, H...
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Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

5 days ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
Check out this podcast episode from Small Farms & Acreage Living - Iowa State University Extension to hear about fruit production possibilities for small acreages!smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com/fruit-production-on-small-acreages?tdest_id=282052 ... See MoreSee Less

smallfarmsustainability's podcast: Fruit Production on Small Acreages

smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com

In this episode I visit with Suzanne Slack, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Fruit Crop Specialist! Today we're talking about fruit production possibilities for small acreages.
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Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association

1 week ago

Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association
If you produce organic specialty crops be sure to check out this podcast episode! ... See MoreSee Less

smallfarmsustainability's podcast: FSA Support Programs for Organic Production

smallfarmsustainability.libsyn.com

In this episode Amanda Weigel, Agriculture Program Specialist with the Iowa Farm Service Agency reviews the two organic programs (OCCSP & OTECP) the FSA is currently accepting applications on!
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History

Some have asked, “How did the Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (IFVGA) come into existence?” For a short history lesson we have to go back to the Civil War period or the beginning of the Iowa State Horticultural Society (ISHS) founded in 1866. In the early years, the society’s members were mostly concerned with fruit and vegetable production and occasionally nursery stock. About 1900, several affiliated Iowa societies – Northeastern, Western, Southwestern, etc. began meeting with the ISHS in Des Moines. Over time, enterprises with like interests formed their own association under the ISHS umbrella. Today there are 24 affiliated organizations/associations with the ISHS. 

The Iowa Fruit Growers Association (IFGA) came into begin July 6, 1959, and Article V (expiration terms) indicated the association would terminate in 1984 (25 years after incorporation) unless sooner dissolved by a majority vote of all members. The initial membership dues were based on acres of fruit – $2.50 minimum for 10 acres of fruit or less plus $1.00 for each additional 10 acres of fruit or fraction thereof.

The Iowa Vegetable Growers Association (IVGA) was incorporated in 1962. The initial board members came from Swea City (Cecil Thoreson), Laurens (Lyle Nelson), Clear Lake (Jack Kennedy, Sam Kennedy, Armstrong (Leslie Hirt), St. Ansgar (C.C. Hansen) Muscatine (John Holiday) Perry (G.E. Roberts), Thompson (Eugene Horswell) and Garner (Bernard Engstler). The bylaws indicated annual dues to be $2.50 for 40 acres of vegetables or less with an added fee of $1.00 for each additional 40 acres. Interestingly, unlike the Fruit Growers, there was no article related to termination of the association. A further note: The executive board could waive the annual dues of any member “…who from ill health, advanced age or other valid reason is unable to pay.” 

Through the late ‘70s and early ‘80s the IVGA was largely inactive and conducted its annual business meeting with the Muscatine Island Truck Growers Association, which was the stronger association. This association has been in existence since 1935. 

In 1983 the IFGA and the IVGA decided it was in their mutual best interests to merge into one association, so the presidents of the two associations signed a consolidation agreement. Thus IFVGA came into being in 1984. The bylaws created four categories of membership: active (grower engaged in production of horticultural crops), associate (supplier, brokers, canners, nonvoting), educational (students and instructors of any state educational institution, nonvoting) and honorary (as deemed by the executive board, nonvoting). Dues structure is not contained in the bylaws, but Section 3-3 states “…membership dues shall be established by the Board of Directors annually…” The articles of incorporation established a board of directors consisting of 9 members on a 3-year term of rotation. The board elects the officers.

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