5 Stops to Check Out on the Iowa Farm to Fork Road Trip
Looking to explore the best food and drinks crafted in Iowa? This summer, join CommonGround Iowa on the Farm to Fork Road Trip – a self-guided tour highlighting award-winning food and drinks from across the state. The five small-town stops on the tour have earned a special place in the hearts, minds and stomachs of Iowans everywhere, and each winner has been specially selected by CommonGround Iowa followers and Iowa’s commodity groups.
Be sure to sneak a peek at CommonGround Iowa’s social media pages, where they the stories of the Iowa farmers producing the crops and raising the animals needed to create these tasty dishes and drinks. You can also take a virtual farm tour to learn more about Iowa agriculture and meet the farmers who have been providing these ingredients to Iowans for generations.
The road trip is also a great chance to support small businesses and venture out to a new part of the state or a new town you’ve never visited before. Head to any of the five stops at any time throughout the summer – no need to visit them in a specific order. Follow and tag @iowacommonground on Facebook or @commongroundia on Instagram with a photo at one of the stops for a chance to win road trip giveaways. The more places you visit and photos you tag, the more entries you’ll have!
See more: 6 Must-Visit Agritourism Destinations in Iowa
Check Out These 5 Stops on the Iowa Farm to Fork Road Trip This Summer
Join in for a summer full of good food and great views, and learn a thing or two about where your food comes from at the following stops along the road trip.
1. Best Tenderloin: Pub at the Pinicon – New Hampton, IA
The Iowa Pork Producers Association awarded Pub at the Pinicon with the honor of Best Tenderloin in Iowa in 2019. The tenderloin is Iowa’s favorite pork dish, so it’s no surprise that this one is made from Iowa-raised pork. Did you know that the state has more pigs than it has people? In fact, Iowa ranks No. 1 in the nation for pork production, and the Iowa pork industry accounts for nearly 147,000 jobs. They’re serious about their pork!
See more: Iowa Pork Facts
2. Best Ice Cream: Goldie’s – Prairie City, IA
CommonGround followers chose Goldie’s as the best ice cream shop in Iowa. It takes only about 48 hours for dairy products to go from the farm to the processor, then to the retailer. That means the milk you buy from your local grocery store most likely comes from a local farmer. Celebrate June Dairy Month this summer with a visit!
See more: June is National Dairy Month
3. Best Burger: Flight Bar & Grill – Huxley, IA
Did you know that Iowa ranks fourth in the U.S. for beef production? Every year, the Iowa Beef Industry Council awards one restaurant with the Best Burger of the Year award. Flight Bar & Grill won this award in only their second year of being open for business with their Foundation Burger.
See more: Beef Nutrients
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4. Best Distillery: Century Farms Distillery – Spencer, IA
Iowa leads the nation in corn production each year, and CommonGround Iowa social media followers voted Century Farms Distillery as Iowa’s best distillery. 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.
See more: Iowa Corn Facts
5. Best Bakery: Sweet Desires – Corning, IA
CommonGround followers chose 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. Vegetable oil is most often made from soybean oil, and Iowa ranks second in the nation for soybean production. Soybeans create many products like feed for livestock and biodiesel (a cleaner-burning, renewable fuel), and are now being used in place of petroleum in many everyday products.
Did you know that Iowa is also 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.
See more:
- About the Iowa Soybean Association
- Soybean Uses
- Iowa’s Egg Industry Facts & Quick Stats
- Egg Nutrition Facts
See more: What’s Growing? Iowa Produce Calendar
About CommonGround
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 volunteers are moms focused on feeding their family quality, healthy meals, just like you. They recognize that many families are curious about where their food comes from, and their volunteers are readily available to answer questions and chat about Iowa food and farming.