Specialty Meats Marketing Project at Sycamore Street Market

Specialty Meats Marketing Project at Sycamore Street Market

Summary

Direct sales and added value show promise for small producers trying to maintain economic viability.

Objective: To develop and promote a local market for specialty meats produced in northeast Iowa.

The orginal plan was to establish a meat business at Sycamore Street Market, a year-round public market in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. However, circumstances necessitated using the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Farmers Market instead. The group marketed beef, pork, lamb, ostrich and bison, and educated consumers about the health benefits of meats raised in a humane environment without hormones and antibiotics. The project team also sold products directly to health good stores in Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Results: The project was extended to develop promotional materials and expand sales.