A Farm to Fork Road Trip
June 7, 2023
Julia Edlefson, CommonGround Iowa
Are you looking to explore the best food and drinks crafted here in Iowa? This summer, join CommonGround Iowa on the Farm to Fork Road Trip, a self-guided tour highlighting five award-winning food and beverages from across the state. CommonGround Iowa followers and Iowa’s commodity groups have specially selected each winner, earning them a stop along the tour and a special place in Iowans’ hearts, minds and stomachs.
Sneak a peek at CommonGround Iowa’s social media pages as we share the stories of the Iowa farmers producing crops and raising the animals needed to create these tasty dishes and drinks. In addition, we’ll take you on a virtual farm tour to learn more about Iowa agriculture and meet the farmers who have been providing these ingredients to Iowans for generations.
CommonGround Iowa is a volunteer group of farm women seeking to close the gap between producers and consumers through outreach within the state of Iowa. Many of our volunteers are moms focused on feeding their family quality, healthy meals. We recognize that many families are curious about where their food comes from. Volunteers are readily available to answer questions and chat about Iowa food and farming.
This is also a great chance to support small businesses while venturing to towns and parts of the state you’ve never explored. While you’re there, please take a photo and tag us in it for your chance to win one of several prizes. Follow and tag @iowacommonground on Facebook or @commongroundia on Instagram with a photo at one of the stops to win one of our road trip giveaways! The more places you visit and photos you tag, the more entries you’ll have!
Join us for a summer full of good food and great views while learning more about the people and places that raise and grow our food!
Check out these places on the Farm to Fork Road Trip this summer:
Pub on the Pinicon, New Hampton (Best Tenderloin)
Pub on the Pinicon was awarded the Best Tenderloin in Iowa in 2019 by the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The tenderloin is Iowa’s favorite pork dish, so it’s no surprise it is made from Iowa-raised pork. Iowa ranks number one in the nation for pork production. Did you know that the state has more pigs than people? Or that the Iowa pork industry accounts for nearly 147,000 jobs? We’re serious about our pork!
Goldie’s, Prairie City (Best Ice Cream)
CommonGround Iowa followers chose Goldie’s as Iowa’s best ice cream shop. June is National Dairy Month. Did you know that It takes about 48 hours for dairy products to go from the farm to the processor, then to the retailer? This means the milk you buy from your local grocery store most likely comes from a local farmer!
Flight Bar & Grill, Huxley (Best Burger)
The Iowa Beef Industry Council awards one restaurant with the “Best Burger” of the year award every year. Flight Bar & Grill won this award for their “Foundation Burger” in only their second year of being open for business. Iowa ranks fourth in U.S. beef production. Beef contains 10 essential nutrients, and a 3-ounce serving provides nearly half of your daily value of protein!
Century Farms Distillery, Spencer (Best Distillery)
CommonGround Iowa’s social media followers voted Century Farms Distillery as Iowa’s best distillery. Iowa leads the nation in annual corn production. So yes, Luke Bryan, corn does make whiskey, but the corn grown in Iowa is primarily turned into animal feed and ethanol (a cleaner-burning fuel). Corn is even replacing plastic in some materials to create a bio-based product.
Sweet Desires, Corning (Best Bakery)
Are you looking for a sweet treat? CommonGound Iowa followers selected Sweet Desires as the best bakery in Iowa. Whether you’re an avid or amateur baker, you know that eggs and vegetable oil are common ingredients in baked goods. Did you know that vegetable oil is most often made from soybean oil? Iowa ranks second in the nation for soybean production. Soybeans create many products like feed for livestock, biodiesel (a cleaner-burning, renewable fuel), and are now used instead of petroleum in many everyday products.
Iowa is the nation’s top egg-producing state. Nearly one in six eggs produced in the U.S. comes from Iowa. Eggs are a great source of protein and offer 13 essential vitamins and minerals.