Gas prices fuel “buy local” significance

It's been years since Kathy Sternhagen raised the price on her greenhouse tomatoes.

Even as high gas prices make it more costly to fill up her minivan, the owner of Kirkwood's Sun Country Produce is unsure if she will pass along that expense to her farmers market customers.

“That's undecided at this point,” said Sternhagen, 39, who sells at markets in Cedar Rapids and Marion, between 40 and 50 miles from her Hopkinton home. “It's something we think about, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Speculation that gas could soar to $6 per gallon this summer has simmered, with prices still under $4, but any increase can make a difference to growers with razor-thin profit margins.

Fuel is one of several factors influencing food prices, and as that cost escalates, the importance of buying local becomes more pronounced, producers say.

“The idea is to be sustainable,” said Doug Darrow, 56, who raises chickens and grass-fed beef at Rapid Creek Ranch in rural Oxford. “We don't need to ship all over the country.”

Darrow recently had to raise egg prices from $2.75 to $3.25 per dozen.

“Most of that is fuel costs,” he said, citing the door-to-door delivery Rapid Creek developed for Iowa City customers.

Craig Chase, of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University in Ames, said gas prices account for a small portion of producers' costs compared to expenses such as labor, at about $12 per hour.

Even so, the product can dictate the role gas plays in prices, he said, citing chickens as an example. With only two chicken processing plants in Iowa, farmers who have to drive 300 to 400 miles need to charge more - up to $4.25 per pound, Chase said.

“Depending on how far they have to go, the processing cost is a huge amount,” he said.

Darrow is in a similar situation with his cattle.

The trip from Rapid Creek Ranch to Newhall Locker & Processing is 28 miles each way, he noted, with two trips required between dropping off a steer and picking up the meat. That's 112 miles in his 1990 Ford pickup, which gets about 11 miles per gallon of diesel.

Darrow longs for the days when meat lockers were located in every small town, but his family hopes to contain their driving through other methods, such as someday opening an on-farm retail store.

“That's our ultimate goal, where we can limit the amount of miles we drive,” he said.

In the meantime, Rapid Creek products are offered at several local farmers markets, as well as the Cedar Rapids-based Iowa Valley Food Co-op, an online market.

Carolyn Adolphs, 62, who sells produce, plants and bakery at markets near her  rural Traer farm, said time is another factor in deciding which markets to attend. She has been invited to places such as Ames and Des Moines, but the daylong commitment is too great.

“I'd prefer to go more locally,” she said.

In many cases, that's possible. Dozens of farmers markets have sprung up across Eastern Iowa, making it easier for both customers and vendors to reduce their driving miles.

That was among the reasons behind the new East Side Iowa City market, said organizer Ethel Madison of Coralville, who added that she still has room for more vendors as the May 6 opening day approaches.

Close to her Hopkinton home, Sternhagen, known as “the tomato lady,” also started a farmers market nearby in Sand Springs.

Still, several farmers markets have closed since last year for various reasons, including markets at Lone Tree, North Liberty, Traer and Greene Square Park in Cedar Rapids.

While North Liberty's closure was attributed to site construction, others cited a shrinking customer base.

“We just didn't have enough people,” said Adolphs, one of the organizers of the Traer market.

She plans to continue selling at other markets, but prefers to stay closer to home.

“I would love to just go to Traer to sell,” she said. “We want to sell as close as we can, but sometimes you have to go where the people are.”

FYI:

The following are seasonal farmers markets in Eastern Iowa. If you know of others, send information in an email to: Cindy.Hadish@SourceMedia.net

An updated list will be available throughout the season on TheGazette.com

Allamakee County

- Waukon, 3:30-6 p.m. Mondays, June 4 through Sept. 24, City Park; Extension Office, (563) 568-6345.

- Harpers Ferry, 5-7 p.m. Fridays, June 1 to Sept. 28, Bluff View Park; Connie Benedict (563)-586-2297.

Benton County

- Belle Plaine, 5-7 p.m. Fridays; May 25 through Oct. 26, 13th Street and Sixth Avenue; Becky Poduska, (641) 489-2107.

- Urbana, 9-11 a.m. Saturdays, May 26 through Sept. 29, American Legion Pavilion, 204 W. Wood St.; Eileen Schmidt, (319) 560- 6829.

- Shellsburg, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays; May 30 through Oct. 10, Sell Street; Judy Shaeffer, (319) 436-3566.

- Vinton, 5-7 p.m. Thursdays, June 7 through Sept. 27, Vinton Railroad Depot, 612 Second Ave.; Duane Randall, (319) 472-4164.

- Youngville Café, 3:30-6 p.m. Fridays, June 1 through Oct. 12, Hwy. 30 & 218; Lorraine Van Fleet, (319) 573-0720. www.youngvillecafe.com

Buchanan County

- Independence, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May 12 through Oct. 20, Wapsipinicon Mill, 100 First St. W, Joe Olsen (319) 334-2709.

Cedar County

- Tipton, 7:30-11 a.m. Saturdays, May 19 through Oct. 6, south side of Cedar County Courthouse; Yvonne Gregory, (563) 946-3551, or Evelyn Walshire (563) 432-6983.

- Mechanicsville, 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays, May 29 through Sept. 25, across from fire station on Main Street; Linda Coppess, (563) 432-7756, or Evelyn Walshire, (563) 432-6983.

Clayton County

- Guttenberg, 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, May 26 through Oct. 13, S. 400th block of River Park Drive; Lisa Bernhard, (563) 252-2323.

Delaware County

- Manchester, 7-10:30 a.m. Saturdays, May 26 through Oct. 6, next to courthouse, 100 block of South Tama St.; Jan Conrad, (563) 927-4141.

- Sand Springs, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 10 through Sept. 27, Community Center, Highway 38; Kathy Sternhagen, (563) 926-2394.

Dubuque County

- Dubuque, 7 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May 5 through Oct. 27, Iowa Street near City Hall; Dubuque Main Street, (563) 588-4400.

- Dyersville, 2:30-6 p.m. Thursdays, May 17 through Oct. 4, Commercial Club, Hwy. 136; Chamber of Commerce, (563) 875-2311.

Fayette County

- Elgin, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 3 through Oct. 25, City Park; Deanna Walvatne, (563) 426-5988.

Iowa County

- Amana Colonies, 4-7 p.m. Fridays, May 25 through Sept. 14, Henry's Village Market, 4125 V St., Homestead Amana; Andy Bodenbender, (319) 622-3931.

- Williamsburg: information pending.

Johnson County

- Coralville, 5-7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, May 7 through Oct. 4, Community Aquatic Center, 1513 Seventh St.; Matt Hibbard, (319) 248-1750. www.coralville.org/farmersmarket

- Iowa City, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May 2 through Oct. 31, Chauncey Swan parking ramp, 460 E. Washington St.; Tammy Neumann, (319) 356-5210. www.icgov.org

- East Side Iowa City, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays and 3:30-6 p.m. Fridays; May 6 through Oct. 28, Eastbury Drive; Ethel Madison, (319) 351-2197. www.eastsidefarmersmarket-ic.com

- Oxford, 4-7 p.m. Mondays, May 14 through Oct. 8, Creekside Park on Mill Street; Kathy Tandy, (319) 828-4959.

- Sycamore Mall: information pending.

Jones County

- Anamosa, 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, June 13 through Oct. 20, 600 E. Main St.; Judith Phillips, (319) 462-2971.

- Monticello, 3-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 8-11 a.m. Saturdays, May 12 through Oct. 31, Middle School parking lot; Judy Skay, (319) 465-7023.

Linn County

- Cedar Rapids city parking lot, 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturdays, (except during Downtown Markets) and 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays, May 1 through Oct. 20, Eighth Avenue and Second Street SE; Teresa White, (319) 286-5699.

- Noelridge Park, 4-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, (except Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day) May 2 through Oct. 19, Collins Road and Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids; Teresa White, (319) 286-5699.

- Downtown Cedar Rapids, 7:30 a.m. to noon on June 2 and 16; July 7 and 21; Aug. 4 and 18; Sept. 1 and 15, Third and Fourth avenues and Second and Third streets SE; Pam Hinman, (319) 730-1415.

- Center Point: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays, June 1 through Aug. 31, American Legion Pavilion, Main Street; Britni Graham, (319) 849-1508.

- Central City, 4-6 p.m. Thursdays, May 24 through Sept. 27, Courtyard Park, S. Fifth Street; Ruthanne Weighton, (319) 438-1761 or (319) 438-1761.

- Ely, 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, May 5 to Oct. 6, Community Center, 1570 Rowley St.; Ali Alldredge, (319) 848-2036.

- Hiawatha, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, April 22 through Oct. 28, Guthridge Park parking lot at 10th Avenue; Sandy Barnard, (319) 540-6452. www.hiawatha-iowa.com

- Marion, 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 8-11:30 a.m. Saturdays; May 5 through Sept. 29, Taube Park, 2200 31st St.; Pat Carlson, (319) 377-4846.

- Uptown Marion Market, 7:30 a.m. to noon on June 9, July 14 and Aug. 11, City Square Park; Marion Chamber of Commerce, (319) 377-6316. www.marioncc.org

- Mount Vernon, 4-6 p.m. Thursdays, May 3 through Oct. 11, Memorial Park, 311 First St. W; Danielle and Laura Strabala, (319) 310-4145.

- Palo: information pending.

- Springville, 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays, May 1 through Aug. 28, Cox Lake Pavilion behind City Hall, 304 Broadway; Lena Gilbert, (319) 854-7097.

Louisa County

- Columbus Junction, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays, May 11 through Oct. 12, American Legion, 99 Second St.; Mallory Smith, (319) 728-7971.

Poweshiek County

- Grinnell, 3-6 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May 24 through Oct. 27, Central Park, Broad Street and Fourth Avenue; Bud Doane, (641) 990-4192.

Tama County

- Toledo, 5-7 p.m. Fridays, May 4 through Oct. 26, east side of courthouse; Dawn Troutner, (641) 691-9710.

Washington County

- Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, July 1 through Aug. 26, casino parking lot; Ruby Dickey, (319) 648-1234.

- Washington, 5-7:30 p.m. Thursdays, May 17 through Oct. 25, Downtown Central Park, Washington Street and Iowa Avenue; Bob Shepherd, (319) 461-3479.