Blues Best Mushrooms
Blues Best Mushrooms is a family-owned specialty mushroom company in Eastern Iowa that supplies fresh mushrooms to the Co-op including Shitake, Oyster, and Lion's Mane.
Vinton, IA
Kerns Homegrown
Type: Producer
Produces: Sweet Corn
Location: Oelwein, IA
Miles from Coop: 54
A Homegrown Start
In 1999, at the age of 15, Blake Kerns rented two acres of abandoned crop land, borrowed a planter, and seeded sweet corn. Twenty years later he's still planting, picking, and delivering fresh picked homegrown produce.
“Planting a seed, nurturing it, picking it, delivering it- the process provides a real sense of accomplishment.”
Sustainability
As a GAP-certified Iowa farm operation with over 2,200 acres of crop production including 100+ acres of fruits and vegetables, sustainable agriculture practices are at the core of Kerns Homegrown operations.
The use of rotational cover crops, integrated pest management systems, drip irrigation, and no-till farming are just some of the ways Blake works to improve soil health and reduce erosion for better land stewardship of Iowa farmland.
Other Local Producers
Be sure to check out these others great local producers!
Early Morning Harvest
Earl, Ronda (above), & son Jeff Haffner grow organic grains and stone grind them whole – germ intact (unlike commercial flour). Their organic grains are in many of New Pi’s breads, prepared foods, and on New Pi shelves
Panora, IA
Iowa Miso
Tomie, owner and creator of Iowa Miso makes delicious miso with Iowa grown soy beans.
Cedar Falls, IA
Hansen's Dairy
Switch to their butter and you’ll never go back: Hansen’s butter, cream, and long-lasting non-homogenized milks are known for their flavor.
Hudson, IA
Seed Savers Exchange
Seed Savers formed a network of gardeners interested in preserving heirloom varieties and sharing seeds.
Decorah, IA
Beeler's Pure Pork
Their Heluka® breed and method of farming focuses on keeping their hogs stress-free: raising them with compassion, plenty of access to spacious bedded areas and sunshine, vegetarian feed, and no antibiotics or hormones.
Le Mars, Iowa
Rot's Bounty Gourmet Fungi
Rot’s Bounty is a small, family-owned mushroom farm in Iowa City that seeks to provide delicious, fresh, and beautiful fungi to local grocers and restaurants.
Iowa City, Iowa
Marmalade Sky
I had a mission: to find a way to bake everyone’s favorite treats without sacrificing anything to taste or texture. Malak Nour is a local artisanal baker specializing in gluten-free baked treats.
Fairfield, IA