After three days of workshops, presentations and Iowa farm tours, a group of 19 nationally recognized food editors now have a clearer picture of how food is produced.

Co-sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association, the "Heartland Farm-to-Table Tour" attracted food editors, cookbook authors and food consultants from New York, California, Florida, Louisiana, Texas and points beyond. The tour was designed to show the interconnection in the food production system in Iowa, as well as Iowa's connection to the rest of the world.

"Because of the important role food editors play in educating the public about the foods they eat, they were a key audience to properly educate about agriculture and food production," said Sean Dolan, Chair of the IPPA Consumer Information Committee.

A highlight of the tour was a visit to Craig Christensen's farm near Ogden. As a pork producer and president of the National Pork Board, Craig explained the basics of pork production while leading the editors around his farm and through the hog facilities.

During the tour, Craig emphasized the priority livestock farmers place on caring and providing for their animals. Even on the hot and humid July day, the editors observed first-hand how comfortable the sows and pigs were in Craig's environmentally-controlled farrowing and nursery buildings.

Craig also shared the importance farmers place on producing high quality pork, touting the advancements of genetic lines, breeding, management, technology and animal welfare.

A visit to the cattle farm of Dave Petty near Eldora was also part of the tour. As a National Environmental Stewardship Award winner, both the Petty and Christensen farms tied in the importance of agriculture and environmental stewardship, as well as the connection between grain and livestock.

"The farm visits were a highlight of the tour," said Sean Dolan. "The food editors saw first-hand the passion and pride farmers have in producing quality food products for consumers, while at the same time caring for their animals, their land and their environment. The tours also helped the food professionals put a face on another group of professionals ­ the people who produce food for a living."

A visit to Iowa State University allowed the editors to meet with Dr. Ken Prusa, Professor-in-charge of the Sensory Evaluation Unit at the college's Center for Designing Food to Improve Nutrition. Dr. Prusa updated the editors about the latest research and technologies that impact food and its nutritional value. Dr. Prusa focused one segment on pork quality, explaining the role of sensory evaluation and discussing meat coloring and pH balance and impact on taste and quality.

Other stops on the tour included a presentation and tour at a Des Moines HyVee grocery store for the food editors to see the vast array of products available to Iowa consumers, along with a hands-on cooking demonstration at the Wire Whisk, a cooking school in downtown Des Moines. Editors also took in a few tried-and-true Iowa experiences, including strolling through a farmers market, touring the Summerset Winery in Indianola and eating at a local Maid Rite.

The tour was co-sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council, The Soyfoods Council, National Pork Board, National Cattlemen's Beef Board and the United Soybean Board.

Attending the "Heartland Farm to Table" tour were:

Bruce Aidells Cookbook Author, Chef Kensington, California Jeanne Ambrose Better Homes and Gardens Des Moines, Iowa Nancy Byal Director of FoodSolutions Mingo, IA Holly Clegg Freelance/Cookbook Author Baton Rouge, Louisiana Stephen Exel Better Homes and Gardens Des Moines, Iowa Chavanne B. Hanson Kerr Corporation Chagrin Falls, Ohio Nancy Hopkins Better Homes and Gardens Des Moines, Iowa Nancy Hughes Freelance/Recipe Developer Daphne, Alabama Patsy Jamieson Eating Well Magazine Charlotte, Vermont John Kirkpatrick Cuisine at Home Des Moines, Iowa Frances Largeman Health Magazine Birmingham, Alabama Tara Mastrelli Foodservice Director Magazine & Restaurant Business Magazine New York, New York Michelle Moran Gourmet News Coral Gables, Florida Susan Nicholson RD Freelance/Syndicated Columnist Atlanta, Georgia Steve Petusevsky Chef Steve's Carried Away Cuisine Weston, Florida Victoria Riccardi Living Fit Magazine/Freelance/Author Newton, Maine Carol and Kurt Ritchie Cookin' with Carol-Food TV Arlington, Texas Nick Roskelley Stagnito's New Products Deerfield, Illinois

Heartland Farm-to-Table Tour Sponsors Iowa Pork Producers Association Iowa Beef Industry Council The Soyfoods Council National Pork Board National Cattlemen's Beef Board United Soybean Board