Iowa Produce Market Potential Calculator
Researcher(s)
Principal investigator: Stephen Andrle
Co-principal investigator: Randy Boeckenstedt
Project status
Completed
Start date: 01/01/05
End date: 10/31/05
Project web page: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/calculator/home.htm
Sponsor(s)/partner(s)
Sponsor(s):Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
About the research
Abstract: This calculator was designed to help users determine expanding markets in Iowa if consumers ate more locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables rather than produce from conventional sources outside the state.
The calculator is unique because users easily can compare what Iowans eat (based on national per capita consumption data) to what Iowa farmers produce (based on U.S. Agriculture Census information).
The calculator includes information about 37 fruit and vegetables currently grown in Iowa. Consumption (demand) and supply (production) can be expressed in a number of weight-based units: pounds, bushels, pick-up truck or semi-truck load, yield per acre and retail value. Information can be calculated for the entire state, an individual county or group of counties.