About IFM

Dane County's Institutional Food Market Coalition (IFM) is an economic development program established to:

Expand market opportunities for Dane County and regional growers
Increase the sales of local Wisconsin food into institutional markets
Connect large volume institutional buyers with local Wisconsin product
Identify and resolve obstacles to local sourcing

IFM facilitates local food sales by connecting large volume buyers, distributors, farmers, and local food businesses (value added foods) through our meetings, website, E-News, and technical assistance. IFM does not handle product.

Who is part of the IFM Coalition? Dane County, Dane County UW Extension, Wisconsin institutions, Wisconsin farmers, Wisconsin produce auctions, Wisconsin local food businesses (value added food), local and national distributors, and food systems organizations comprise IFM because they are all committed to increasing sales of local food and expanding our local food economy.

Dane County has a long history of supporting agriculture through policy and programs including: two state certified Agricultural Enterprise Areas (AEAs); exclusive agricultural zoning, including a small-lot agricultural zoning district; a farmland preservation plan adopted as part of the Dane County Comprehensive Plan; the Dane County Food Council; and more. IFM began in 2006 in the Dane County Planning and Development Department under the initiative and leadership of Dane County Senior Economic Development Specialist Olivia Parry, and in January 2012 it moved to Dane County UW-Extension.

Outreach

IFM conducts systematic outreach to large volume buyers, producers, and distributors. Institutional buyers include hospitals, hotels, conference centers, correctional facilities, retirement communities, private corporations, universities, and others. Here is a list of many Wisconsin institutions we have already reached out to.

In the News

Read about IFM in the news! Find links to our Morning Edition NPR interview, appearance on For The Record, and more.

IFM Program Reports and Newsletters

Read about our work in our newsletters:

Contact IFM

We want to hear from you! Don’t hesitate to call or email with questions about how you can buy or sell local produce and products in Wisconsin.

IFM Staff

Carrie Edgar
Dane County UWEX Department Head and Community Food Systems Educator
(608) 224-3706
edgar@countyofdane.com

Laura Witzling
IFM Coordinator
(608) 224-3710
witzling@countyofdane.com

Address

Institutional Food Market Coalition
Dane County UW-Extension
One Fen Oak Ct, Rm 138
Madison, WI 53718

IFM Advisory Committee

Chair: Todd Landfried
Vice President/COO, Neesvig Purveyors

Bartlett Durand
CEO, Black Earth Meat Market

Carrie Edgar
Department Head, UWExtension Dane County

Lois Federman
Marketing Consultant, Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection

Jaime Franke
Dining Services Manager, Edgewood College

Jesse Gillett
Vice President, Indianhead Foodservice

Mark Hayes
Director, University Dining Services, UW-Stevens Point

Scott Hoffland
Director of Restaurant Operations, UW-Milwaukee

Joe Johnson
Regional Sales Manager, Maglio & Co.

Kathryn Lederhause
Retired Food Management Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Chuck Malkowski
Branch Manager, Loffredo Fresh Produce Co.

Greg McCulloch
Program Sales, Sysco Baraboo

Olivia Parry
Sr. Economic Development Specialist, Dane County

Anne Reynolds
Assistant Director, UW Center for Cooperatives

Tom Stoebig
Dane County Board of Supervisors, District 17

Keith Vander Velde
Department Head, UW-Extension Marquette County