Cooking and Using Local Foods from North Iowa
We know that there’s a learning curve with eating locally. Below are some resources to help you take full advantage of local flavors and availability.
Preserving the Harvest
For all the latest info on home food preservation, including delicious tested recipes, check out these Food Preservation Resources.
- ISU Extension Home Food Preservation Resources
- ISU Extension Answerline — 1-800-262-3804
- National Center for Home Food Preservation
- So Easy to Preserve (University of Georgia)
- USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning
- Ball Blue Book
Preserving extends so much further than the canning than more think of. It can include drying, freezing, fermenting, and more! Share your favorite preservation tips and tricks with us!
Making Healthier Choices
Swaps to make for your health and your local economy.
- Replace granulated sugar with local honey.
- Fresh-to-Dried Herb Conversion – A general rule of thumb to use fresh herbs when a recipe calls for dry: 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried herbs. Learn More.
Use a New Local Ingredient
Iowa is home to some iconic specialty crops ranging from aronia berries to morel mushrooms to sweet corn and more!
Using Local Meat
Be sure to use our searchable local food database to find local meat producers near you!
Eating Seasonally
Keep a calendar handy!
These are the best times to buy Iowa fruits and vegetables. The harvest seasons are approximate. Weather conditions can speed up or delay crop maturity.
Iowa Seasonal Harvest Calendar
DIY & Kitchen Tips
Using local products extends past the ingredients in your meals. Here are some fun ways to further incorporate local into your kitchen.
Check back as we add more!
Cookbook Recommendations
We know there are so many great recipe options out there – we are biased, and encourage you to explore our growing recipe database, but below are some of our favorite cookbooks to reference:
- Simply in Season: Recipes and inspiration that celebrate fresh, local foods by Mary Beth Lind, Cathleen Hockman-Wert
- The Minnesota Farmers Market Cookbook: A Guide to Selecting and Preparing the Best Local Produce with Seasonal Recipes from Chefs and Farmers by Tricia Cornell
- Simply Nourished by Ashley Coleman – stop in to purchase
- Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
- The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution: A Cookbook by Alice Waters
- An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace by Tamar Adler
- Cooking with Scraps: Turn Your Peels, Cores, Rinds, and Stems into Delicious Meals by Lindsay-Jean Hard
- America’s Test Kitchen Cookbooks – excellent for beginners or those looking to gain more kitchen skills
