Pleasant Hill is partnering with the Iowa Food Cooperative to provide a new distribution site to bring local product purchasing opportunities to the community. The Iowa Food Cooperative hosts a unique platform for consumers to order local Iowa products online on a bi-weekly basis. The distribution site will be available as a pilot location in Pleasant Hill through February. Pleasant Hill could become a permanent distribution site for the Iowa Food Cooperative if the pilot period is successful.
“Pleasant Hill is excited to offer our community a convenient way to purchase products grown and made in Iowa” said Madeline Sturms, Senior Planner. “Many community members have expressed a desire to access local goods within our City. Having our City partner with the Iowa Food Cooperative has provided a unique opportunity to add additional value to the quality of life in our area by providing locally sourced products.”
Residents, employees, and organizations in Pleasant Hill will have the opportunity to order local products from Iowa farmers and artisans through the online farmers market. Orders will be available for pick-up bi-weekly at the Pleasant Hill Public Library, 5151 Maple Drive in Pleasant Hill. Anyone interested in purchasing products are encouraged to order online at iowafood.coop. The first shopping cart will open on Saturday, Nov. 26 and individuals can pick-up items on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Local access to the Iowa Food Cooperative is an outgrowth of an ongoing partnership between Pleasant Hill and Iowa State University. The City was awarded the Agricultural Urbanism Toolkit Program through a competitive program offered by the University as a joint partnership between the Community Economic Development and Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension. The Iowa Food Cooperative partnership was identified as a quick-win opportunity for collaboration between organizations. Throughout the rest of the year, there will be opportunities for the public to give feedback about additional projects and programs residents would like to see in Pleasant Hill.
For more information about the program including ordering, delivery dates, and products, visit pleasanthilliowa.org/iowafoodcoop.