ISU students, faculty and staff can taste a little bit of what the horticulture department has to offer from the ISU Horticulture Research Station’s work.

The ISU Horticulture Research Station conducts research on more than 90 projects annually, according to its website. After the completion of data collection for these projects, the produce is sold exclusively to the ISU community.

Right now, chieftain, golden delicious, liberty and red delicious apples as well as red and purple potatoes are being offered on its website. All of the products are sold in five-pound quantities at varying prices depending on the item.

The website is scheduled to close around Thanksgiving time because of the growing season officially ending. However, quantity of produce will dictate the official duration. Produce is typically offered in the spring and fall months and is determined by its growing seasons.

Just north of Ames, 235 acres of land has been set aside to allow for many projects to be conducted simultaneously, benefiting scientists within horticulture, ecology, plant pathology, entomology and natural resources, according to the station’s website.

The research station offers “teaching, research and demonstration” opportunities to about 2,000 visitors, including industry professionals, visiting scientists, master gardeners and ISU students, said Nick Howell, superintendent of the agricultural research station.

“We do a lot of mentoring; we do a lot of training,” Howell said. “We try to expose our students to things they’ve never been exposed to before.” 

With one or two labs visiting the research station weekly, Howell and his staff expose students to new things every day.

“I learn something new every single day, and if my students are paying attention, they do as well,” Howell said. “The opportunity for them to learn is endless.”

Products on the farm are grown using different methods.

“[It’s] entirely dependent upon the research that’s being done,” Howell said.

Current organic crops produced by the farm can only be classified as herbicide-free because they are not yet certified. The farm is in the lengthy, three-year process of certifying land as organic.

All of the products on the farm are grown to industry standards, meaning herbicides that are applied are applied appropriately and accordingly. Projects that test new herbicides are composted or thrown away after completion to make sure they are not consumed.

Students not only have the opportunity to purchase produce from the farm but also may consume many of the products through campus dining centers because of the local foods initiative.

“About half the apples the students see come from this farm,” Howell said. “They’re willing to buy almost everything that we offer.”

Any produce that isn’t sold to campus dining or the ISU community is sold to local growers. While some prices on products offered by the research station may be a few cents cheaper, the research farm intentionally doesn’t compete with local food growers. This is to keep competition low within the limited horticulture industry.

This limitation is a “personal policy” set by the research station because the industry is so small, Howell said.

“We are here to serve them,” Howell said. “Our research directly benefits them.”

Knowing the struggle met by most of the industry growers, Howell and his staff don’t want to interfere with their operations.

Money from sales is circulated back into the research process to fund new or current projects. Howell would like the sales operation to grow in the future and would like to raise awareness of the produce for sale.

Brad Bathey, senior in horticulture with an emphasis in fruit and vegetable production and a student employee of the farm, wrote the grant and started the early stages for the sales website.

The site has been active for three growing seasons, with hopes of growth in the future.

“Consistent ordering from more regular customers [is a goal],” Bathey said in regard to the website.

Bathey said it is truly a unique experience for students to have and he hopes more students will take advantage of the services.

“The cool thing about this is everything is locally produced and students are getting the freshest produce possible, traveling the least amount of miles and for a decent price,” Bathey said.

Benjamin Shaffer, senior in civil engineering, said he wasn’t aware of the horticulture research station or of the opportunity to purchase produce through its web site. Shaffer, now that he is aware of the oportunity, will be looking to purchase produce the horticulture research station has to offer because “you know exactly where it’s coming from.”

“I like going to farmer’s markets and getting produce there, but it’s a little expensive,” Shaffer said. “If you can get that kind of produce for that price and a 5-pound bag, I’ll be there.”

Shaffer also believes offering fresh local produce grown by ISU students for ISU students could encourage and complement a healthy lifestyle.

Students, faculty and staff can access the produce sale website at foodlo.cals.iastate.edu/produce-sale, using their university ID and password to login.

Orders can be submitted before noon on Thursdays and will be delivered to the courtyard east of Curtiss hall from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Fridays.