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CVRFFN News

Farm to Fork Recap

2025 Farm to Fork Dinner Blog

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

At the 2025 UNI Local Food Program’s Farm to Fork Dinner, 130 members of the community gathered at the Diamond Event Center for a delicious dinner that celebrated local food. Attendees began the evening by Read more

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Grow Your Reach: Apply for the 2025 Waterloo & Cedar Falls Farmers Markets

farmers market stalls at the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market

As a farmer, there’s no better way to connect with your community and share your hard workthan through farmers markets. Both the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market (WUFM) and theCedar Falls Farmers Market (CFFM) offer incredible opportunities to showcase Read more

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Classic Rice Pudding

This classic dessert is a great way to use up leftover rice. It can also be a fun twist on pre-cooked rice if you’re looking to mix things up. Lightly sweet, creamy, and the dried fruit adds a fun Read more

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Lentil Sloppy Joe Recipe

lentil sloppy joe on a bun

Lentils are a majorly underrated food–in part because delicious recipes for lentil dishes can be difficult to find! While many delicious lentil soup recipes populate the internet, this Lentil Sloppy Joe recipe is great for the summertime, when barbeques Read more

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Get Involved in the Local Food Scene

This month, we’re shining a light on the many ways you can engage with our region’s vibrant local food community. Whether you’re looking to build connections, share resources, or give back, there’s a place for everyone to get involved.

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Producer/ Buyer Networking Event Recap

22 January 2025 – Diamond Event Center, Cedar Falls, IA

Visitors of the Diamond Event Center might have been surprised to hear a cow bell ringing the morning of January 22, 2025. No, a stray cow wasn’t roaming the Read more

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Show Some Love to Your Local Chefs This Valentine’s Month ❤️

This Valentine’s season, let’s celebrate the chefs and restaurants that bring our local food scene to life. Read more
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Resolutions That Aren’t “Eat Healthier”

Tired of resolving to “eat healthier” every new year? It’s such a common goal, yet it often lacks direction or purpose. Instead, aim for realistic, actionable resolutions that not only put your physical and mental health into your own Read more

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2025 Local Food Events

Find a local food event in the Cedar Valley region. Read more
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2025 Farm to Fork Dinner

This locally sourced meal will be prepared by Diamond Event Center chefs on Feb. 5th, 2025. Read more
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Buying Freezer Meat: How and Why You Should Buy in Bulk

Purchasing a whole or half animal (commonly referred to as “freezer meat”) is a fantastic way to stock up on high-quality, locally-raised beef, pork, or lamb. Read more
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It’s time for Farmers Markets!

Farmers Markets will open the first week of May. Farmer’s Markets are a great way to support your local economy. In other words, put your dollars into a local hard-working farmer’s pockets! Plus, you purchase high-quality, dense nutrition food Read more

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Farm to Fork Dinner 2024 Was a Blast!

On Wednesday, February 7th, local producers and residents from the Cedar Valley came together to celebrate the success in locally based products. Read more
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2024 Local Food Directory

It is time for the CVRFFN Local Food Directory! Complete this membership form to be included in the 2024 online and print versions! Complete the form no later than February 16th at midnight. 

We want the Cedar Valley to know where Read more

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2024 Farmers Market Workshop

This is an opportunity for experienced vendors and new vendors to gain knowledge about farmers markets in the Cedar Valley region. Topics will include the new Cottage Law, guidelines from Black Hawk County Public Health, SNAP/EBT, DUFB, Veggie Vouchers, Read more

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Local Food Producer & Buyer Networking Event

Are you interested in purchasing local food for your business? Are you currently purchasing local food but need more suppliers? Are you interested in selling your local food to wholesale markets? Yes, then this event is for you!

This Read more

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Farm to Fork Dinner

This event brings together members of our community to share a table, a story, and a meal, while supporting our local food system.

This incredible four-course meal will be prepared by local chefs utilizing local ingredients. 

We are excited Read more

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2024 Local Food Events Announced

Attend the Local Food Producer/Buyer Networking Event on January 24 to connect buyers with local food suppliers at Diamond Event Center. Post-event networking for producers includes a complimentary lunch and marketing photos. Later, join the CVRFFN Coalition Meeting and Farmers Market Workshop to learn about market guidelines and programs. . Also upcoming: Iowa Eats Festival and Farm Crawl. Read more
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UNI Dining Celebrates Local Food Day

UNI dining loves to celebrate and feature local foods every day, but September 27th was Iowa Local Food Day, and UNI dining was able to feature some special dishes and local ingredients. While the day is geared toward K-12 Read more

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Food Insecurity & Local Foods Connect

This event will bring together people with lived experience, community members working in food insecurity, local food partners, and elected officials.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 5:30-7:30 pm

Jubilee UMC Freedom Center, WATERLOO (1621 E. Fourth St.)

Come enjoy a free Read more

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Stretch your food bucks with free produce from the Double Up Food Bucks program.

Do you have a SNAP/EBT card? Do you want two times the veggies you’re buying now for FREE? Double Up Food Bucks is a SNAP-incentive program aimed at doing just that. At participating Cedar Valley farmers markets and grocery Read more

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Growing a Culture of Celebration

UNI Local Food Program staff and Nourish Iowa AmeriCorps VISTA members from across the state gathered at Waukee High School June 15-17th for the Community Food Systems and Farm to School Early Care Conference.

This conference was a unique Read more

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What is Grow.Eat.Play?

Grow.Eat.Play brands local food producers and experiences, replacing Buy Fresh Buy Local in 2020, aiming to create memories and support local food communities. Read more
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2023 Farm Crawl and We Ride Bike Ride

On August 13, enjoy a day of local food festivities beginning with a 15-mile bike ride and a self-paced farm crawl across various Waterloo locations, concluding with a social at We Arose Gardens. Free admission, registration required for the bike ride. Read more
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The We Ride Series is back this Sunday, May 14!

The We Ride Bike Series is here to encourage beginners and casual riders to get active and be included in organized rides. Join the crew and experience themed routes designed to highlight our local community in Waterloo and surrounding Read more

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