Agriculture

The Delaware County Value-Added Agriculture (DCVAA) Program began in the winter of 1998. The purpose of the program is to develop value-added ag projects by combining the expertise of the agriculture community with the business planning and economic development ability of traditional industrial development organizations. In getting started, the program received financial and technical assistance from the Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa State University Extension - Delaware County, Delaware County Economic Development, Delaware County Bankers Association, Delaware County Farm Bureau, and the Delaware County Board of Supervisors.

From its inception, the DCVAA program has been focused on maintaining the livestock industry in Delaware County, while also researching and developing value-added ag projects new to the local economy. Our local Value-Added Agriculture Coordinator keeps a detailed listing of agricultural assets, as well as financial assistance programs, that will assist individuals or companies interested in starting or expanding a value-added agriculture project(s) in Delaware County.

Currently, our value-added ag program is focusing its attention on pork, dairy, organic production, rural tourism, and micro enterprise dev elopement. There are several projects underway, with new ideas and products being generated monthly. The most successful project to date is Delaware County Meats.

Delaware County Meats
Delaware County Meats was founded in 1999 by a group of independent family farmers who all had a similar dream. A dream that would provide them with the means to make a decent living, and in a broader sense, preserve a way of life that is slowing eroding away. This dream is raising, processing and direct marketing of pork to consumers, to retail stores and restaurants throughout Iowa and in multi-state area.

To date, Delaware County Meats are being sold in EconoFoods in Cedar Rapids, Manchester, Hiawatha and Marshalltown; Anamosa Family Foods, Belle Plain Country Foods, Cascade Country Foods, Central City Country Store, Fairbank Foods, Flannagan's Foods, Hopkinton; Fredericksburg Food Center, Gary's Foods, Mt. Vernon; Grundy Center Family Foods, LaPorte City Thriftway, Manchester Fareway, Main Street Market, Coggon; Maquoketa Jack & Jill, Marion Fareway, Marion Hy-Vee, Marshalltown Hy-Vee, Monticello Family Foods, Payless Foods, Dyersville; Silkers, Epworth; Tipton Family Foods, West Liberty Foods and One Stop Meat Market located in the Metro Market in Des Moines.

The Edgewood Locker, Inc. located in Edgewood, Iowa is a federally inspected meat processing company that handles the meat processing and packaging for Delaware County Meats. Delaware County Meats has a broad line of premium pork products that include traditional processed pork (ham, bacon, franks, and bratwurst), heat and serve items (shredded BBQ, smoked pork chops and precooked bratwurst), and fresh pork (loins, ribs, trim, etc.)

To learn more about Delaware County Meats, or to place orders please call our toll free number: 1-877-875-6388 or visit them on their website: www.delawarecountymeats.com

To learn more about the DCVAA program, or if you have a value-added ag project your looking to develop, please contact:

Donna Boss, Coordinator
Delaware County Value-Added Agriculture
1417 N. Franklin Street, PO Box 336
Manchester, Iowa 52057
Phone: 563-927-4201
Fax: 563-927-3744
E-mail: dbossvaa@yahoo.com

You may also contact:

Darrell Hanson, County Extension Director
Iowa State Extension - Delaware County
1417 N. Franklin
PO Box 336
Manchester, IA 52057
Phone: (563) 927-4201
E-Mail: drhanson@iastate.edu