Eat Greater Des Moines

At the Iowa Food System Coalition, we are proud to work alongside a diverse network of partners across the state, including Eat Greater Des Moines. EGDM coordinates food rescue efforts, community gardens, and regional food hub infrastructure, helping meet immediate food needs while growing long-term food resilience.

Contact: Paul McCormick ([email protected])

Interested in partnering with us? We’re always looking to grow our coalition. Fill out our interest form: https://www.iowafoodsystemcoalition.org/for-partners and we’ll be in touch.

We are excited to share that our friends at Cultivate: Local Food Connections are organizing a spring series of their Cultivate Your Plate Event! These events will take place at the Iowa Food Cooperative on Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30, starting March 29th. Sign up to learn, enjoy delicious food, and participate in prize drawings at every event. Participation is free, but registration is necessary due to limited space. Be sure to find the registration link in their bio!

We are excited to announce our spring Cultivate Your Plate series 🍽 Each event will be held at the on Saturdays 10:00-11:30 starting March 29th. Come learn, eat, and be registered for a drawing to win prize drawings at each event 🎟 Each event is free, but registration is required as space is limited, find the link in our bio! https://cultivatefoodconnections.org/events

🍴 Iowa Food Co-op open house
🍴 Urban Chickens with Half Acre Farm
🍴 How to Tofu with Chef Suman of HoQ Restaurant
🍴 Home Composting with Sweet Tooth Farm and IA Organic Fertilizers
🍴 What's Growing On? Urban Agriculture with Global Greens
🍴 Iowa Food Co-op Plant Sale

We hope to see you at one, two, or all of these events!

A heartfelt thank-you to Practical Farmers of Iowa and everyone who made this year’s annual conference so memorable! From the engaging conversations to the incredible warmth shared, we at Eat Greater Des Moines are truly grateful for the opportunity to connect with such an inspiring community.
This event has always been a cornerstone for sharing knowledge, building meaningful connections, and celebrating agriculture (and delicious, locally sourced food!) here in Iowa.
With over 1,000 attendees, three pre-conference short courses, 70+ farmer-led sessions, and 90+ exhibitors, it was a joy to witness the spirit of curiosity and collaboration in action.
We’re already looking forward to seeing you all again next year!

Some of our Key Takeaways:
Our team conveyed gratitude for the second consecutive year of breakout sessions dedicated to Latino farmers. These sessions play a vital role in closing knowledge and resource gaps, providing critical opportunities for individuals looking to create thriving agricultural enterprises. Additionally, we appreciated Ben Hartman's insights on LEAN farming principles and Leslie Schroeder's presentation on the future of flax-based clothing, especially ideas discussed in her session, "Cropping Cloth: The Potential of Flax for Linen."

We want to express our gratitude for being part of such a memorable Thanksgiving event!

On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, over 160 turkeys—with sides—were distributed in the Drake neighborhood of Des Moines, continuing a 7-year tradition started by Robert Presswood, the owner of Platinum Kutz Barber Shop. This effort brought joy to individuals and families, thanks to your generosity and dedication.

We want to sincerely thank Big Rob for the honor of being part of this incredible event; Dante and the Central Iowa Tito's team for financial support via Love, Tito's; Farm Table Delivery and Farm Story Meats, whose partnership provided over 100 turkeys; and West Forty Market for stepping in with yet another 60 turkeys, raised by Golden Prairie Turkeys. Golden Prairie Turkeys, Farm Story Meats, and Jethro's BBQ contributed to the production and preparation efforts.

To all other supporters and volunteers, your contributions made a real difference. Please join us in thanking those in your networks who helped create this special event.

Looking to grow your food business? Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! The Business Builder Grant is here to support local and regional food enterprises, helping you thrive from supplier to buyer. 💼

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at [email protected]

SO excited for this opportunity Nourish Iowa VISTA!! 🙌 Our very own Paul McCormick went through this program so it's only right we return the favor for the next generation of VISTA members. We'll be sharing more info on this in the near future!

EGDM Local food, food rescue, food waste reduction, and food systems change through community action, shared infrastructure, and sustainable programs.

Big shoutout to EGDM's own, Paul McCormick, for representing EGDM at the Iowa State Fair alongside our partners at Iowa Farmers Union! He brought out the legendary blender bike and pedalled some delicious berry smoothies with Tommy Hexter of IFU. Way to go guys!! 👏😂

Eat Greater Des Moines Showcases Local Food Energy at the Iowa State Fair — Iowa Food System Coalition Eat Greater Des Moines, a partner in the Iowa Food System Coalition, joined in the fun at the Iowa Farmer's Union Day at the State Fair. With their innovative blender bike, EGDSM demonstrated the vibrant energy and commitment that IFSC members bring to building a stronger local and regional food sys