Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network

Seed Starting Workshop - Waterloo
2025-03-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Iowa State Extension & Outreach Black Hawk County Public Health, 3420 University Avenue, Waterloo, Iowa
The workshops will be held in Conference Room A at the Extension office at 3420 University Avenue in Waterloo. Starting soil and seeds will be provided, some containers will be available, but attendees are asked to bring np more than 24 small pots or 2 starting trays. The starters will go home with the attendees.
This workshop is free, but space is limited. Anyone interested is asked to pre-register for only one class by calling (319) 234-6811 or emailing seilers@iastate.edu.

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshops
2025-03-20 17:00 - 18:00 UTC | Waverly Orchard, 3rd St SW and 7th Ave SW, Waverly, Iowa, 50677
Learn the proper fruit tree pruning techniques and then help prune the Waverly Community Sharing Orchard. No registration required, free to attend.
Instructor: Patrick O’Malley (319) 337-2145

Seed Starting and Your Garden- Denver
2025-03-22 09:30 - 10:30 UTC | Denver Public Library, 100 Washington St., Denver, Iowa, 50622
Learn how to start seeds and manage your home garden. Materials provided.

Contact Ron Lenth (319) 882-4275

Black Hawk SWCD's Award Banquet & 80th Anniversary Celebration
2025-03-27 17:00 - 20:30 UTC | Diamond Event Center, 5307 Caraway Ln., Cedar Falls, IA, 50613, United States
Join us Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Diamond Event Center in the Western Home Communities as we celebrate the Black Hawk SWCD’s legacy of conservation. In 2025, the Black Hawk SWCD will commemorate 80 years of service to the county in their mission to protect the land, soil, and water. The 2025 Conservation Awards will be presented to recipients followed by keynote speaker.

Ticket price $20 each – meal choice of chicken, beef, or vegetarian. Contact Jenna at jenna.curran@ia.nacdnet.net for more information or to purchase tickets in person.
NOTE: When purchasing tickets online, the ticket price includes a $1.00 fee for the transaction.

Better Conversations: Engaging Eaters with Taste & Nutrition
2025-03-28 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
Better Conversations: Engaging Eaters with Taste & Nutrition with Jenn Pope, RD (Virtual Workshop)

To equip farmers, food producers, and market vendors with practical tools to engage customers more effectively, learn how to answer common questions like “What would I even do with this?” by focusing on taste, simple preparation tips, and nutritional benefits. This class will also help you craft better social media posts that highlight your products and connect with customers. Whether you’re at the farmers market or online, you’ll gain strategies to boost engagement and build stronger customer relationships. Class will be held via Zoom. Registration required (see below).
About Jenn
Jenn Pope, Registered Dietitian, has been taking a food-first approach for over 3 years, helping clients use whole foods as the foundation of their nutrition journey. With a degree from Iowa State University and a Master’s in Nutrition Diagnostics, Jenn combines her extensive knowledge with practical, realistic strategies for healthy eating.
Her passion for nutrition began in high school, where she experienced firsthand how food impacted her athletic performance. Today, she uses that passion to make nutrition approachable, focusing on taste and simplicity through Roots Nutrition Counseling in Mason City. Jenn loves working in her garden, cooking up new recipes, and finding ways to make healthy food taste great. She’s excited to share her expertise with you!

Seed Starting and Your Garden- Waverly
2025-03-29 09:30 - 10:30 UTC | Waverly Public Library, 1500 W. Bremer, Waverly, Iowa, 50677

Empty Bowls (Northeast Iowa Food Bank)
2025-04-04 18:00 - 21:00 UTC
There are still some tickets available for Empty Bowls! Check out the press release for more information: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/…/67d1ae04c757b24988…

To purchase tickets, visit neifb.org.

See you April 4th!

#neifb #everymealeverydayeveryone #emptybowls2025 #emptybowls

Iowa Eats Festival
2025-04-05
The Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival is a one-day celebration of Iowa food and drink. Get ready for the ultimate Iowa foodie experience!

The Iowa Eats Food & Drink Festival is bringing you a full menu of excitement on April 5! Join us for live cooking demonstrations and hands-on classes led by top local chefs.

Don’t miss your chance to savor, sip, and learn! Tickets are on sale now – grab yours today and be part of this delicious journey!

Best Practices for Food Entrepreneurs Workshop
2025-05-07 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Winneshiek County Extension and Outreach, 2316 Sweet Parkway Road, Decorah, IA, United States
Join Iowa State University Extension and Outreach for an educational workshop designed with food entrepreneurs in mind. What you’ll learn:

Understand the guidelines, food safety,
and the science supporting the
guidelines for home food entrepreneurs.
Practice and use the testing equipment
required for home food entrepreneurs
and be able to complete batch records.
Generate appropriate food labels for
foods sold from their homes.
Be equipped to adopt food safety best
practices for consistent, high-quality
products in their home food business.

Registration costs $85.
Register at: Best Practices
Contact Jill Weber, Health and Human Sciences Educator, for more information at jrweber@iastate.edu or call (319)234-6811.

Best Practices for Food Entrepreneurs Workshop
2025-05-08 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Iowa State Extension & Outreach Black Hawk County Public Health, 3420 University Avenue, Waterloo, Iowa

Best Practices for Food Entrepreneurs Workshop
2025-05-12 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Fayette County Extension office, 218 S Main Street, Fayette, IA, United States

CVRFFN Meeting
2025-05-14 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Northeast Iowa Food Bank, 1605 Lafayette St., Waterloo, Iowa, 50703
Topic: How to Find Local Food in the Cedar Valley Region
You will hear from Hansen’s Dairy, We Arose, and other farmers markets.
Plus, learn more about Grow.Eat.Play and how it can help you find local foods. The 2025 Cedar Valley Local Food Guide will be available!
Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network is a coalition of individuals, food and farm businesses, the UNI Local Food Program, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, Black Hawk County Health Department, and other community organizations & leaders working together to positively impact the local food system.

Sourdough Workshop
2025-05-21 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Oneota Coop Kitchen, 312 W. Water Street, Decorah, IA, United States
Learn how to make your own sourdough bread with ISU Extension at this Sourdough Workshop!
What you’ll learn:

Take Home Your Own Starter- to
continue your baking at home.
Mix, Stretch, and Fold a Mini Loaf- learn
the essential techniques for creating
the perfect loaf of bread and take home
a mini loaf to ferment and bake.
Taste and Explore- sample a batch of
fermented focaccia and discover the
use of sourdough discard and an active
starter.

Cost is $50.
Register at go.iastate.edu/U79SGU
Contact Jill Weber, Health and Human Sciences Educator, at jrweber@iastate.edu or call (319)234-6811 for more information.

Sourdough Workshop
2025-06-03 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Fayette County Extension office, 218 S Main Street, Fayette, IA, United States

Fermentation Workshop
2025-06-05 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Oneota Coop Kitchen, 312 W. Water Street, Decorah, IA, United States
Join Iowa State Extension and Outreach for a Fermentation Workshop!
What you’ll learn:

Explore the rich history and significance
of fermented vegetables.
Uncover the amazing health benefits of
fermented foods and why they are great
for gut health.
Get practical tips for avoiding common
fermentation problems.
Leave with the skills and confidence to
start fermenting your own delicious jar of
kimchi at home!

Cost is $50.
Register at go.iastate.edu/U79SGU
Contact Jill Weber, Health and Human Sciences Educator, at jrweber@iastate.edu or call (319)234-6811 for more information.

Fermentation Workshop
2025-06-25 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | Fayette County Extension office, 218 S Main Street, Fayette, IA, United States

Sourdough Workshop
2025-07-01 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | St. Patrick Church, 705 Main Street, Cedar Falls, United States

Fermentation Workshop
2025-07-08 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | St. Patrick Church, 705 Main Street, Cedar Falls, United States

Love Local Food 5k Walk/ Run
2025-07-19 08:00 - 12:00 UTC | Riverloop Expo Plaza, 400 Commercial St, Waterloo, IA, 50701, United States
Join the UNI Local Food Program and the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market on Saturday, July 19 for the first annual Love Local Food 5k walk/run. The race will begin promptly at 8am from the Riverloop Expo Plaza North. Profits from the race will go to the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market and efforts to support local food in the Cedar Valley.
We will also hold a costume contest–dress as your favorite local food for a chance to win!
Register here for the race. Registration costs $25.
Packet pickup will take place from 7-7:45am the morning of the race. Bathrooms will be available inside 327 W 3rd St. Please park at 204 Commercial Street and walk to the start.
The UNI Local Food program will serve samples of local foods after the race; additional food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market.
Please email unilocalfood@gmail.com with any questions about the race.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Official Course Map

Sourdough Workshop
2025-08-12 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Allamakee County Extension office, 218 7th Ave SE #102, Waukon, United States

Best Practices for Food Entrepreneurs Workshop
2025-08-12 16:00 - 18:00 UTC | Allamakee County Extension office, 218 7th Ave SE #102, Waukon, United States

Fermentation Workshop
2025-09-09 13:00 - 15:00 UTC | Allamakee County Extension office, 218 7th Ave SE #102, Waukon, IA, United States

CVRFFN Meeting
2025-09-17 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Northeast Iowa Food Bank, 1605 Lafayette St., Waterloo, Iowa, 50703
Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network is a coalition of individuals, food and farm businesses, the UNI Local Food Program, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, Black Hawk County Health Department, and other community organizations & leaders working together to positively impact the local food system.

Farm to Fork Dinner
2026-02-04 17:00 - 19:00 UTC | Diamond Event Center, 5307 Caraway Ln., Cedar Falls, IA, 50613, United States
Further details will be announced soon!
