Needed crops in and around Iowa City/Coralville (organic, farms)

[danaruns]

Okay, everyone is growing corn and soy beans in giant agri-business or as contract farmers in a vertical corporate farming system. So there's nothing for a small farmer in corn or soy beans. Obviously, a small farmer can't compete when it takes a thousand acres of corn to make a $15,000 profit.

So, what kind of local crops would appeal to Iowans on a direct marketing basis from the small farmer? What do people want, and what would they pay for direct from the small farm? Organic, pastured broiler chickens and eggs? Organic products (baked goods, sauces, chicken pot pies, etc.) produced on local farms from products grown there?

Is there a niche market in and around eastern IA for high quality, organic meat, produce and products direct from the farmer?

[Dport7674]

The Farmers Markets seem to carry just about everything. Organic meats are getting more & more popular.

Different kinds of mushrooms are a big seller. But from my undrstanding they're hard to cultivate, maybe even impossible when you start talking about Morels etc.

One difference about the outdoor markets in eastern IA. and the Chicago markets is I see people selling "wild" flowers in Chi. and they seem to sell out and make a killing.