Jason Grimm

As the Food System Planner with Iowa Valley RC&D in Amana, Jason Grimm coordinates the Linn-Johnson Local Food Task Force. The Task Force is local and county governments, health authorities, schools, producers, non-profit organizations, food processors and developers who are working to build a sustainable food and agriculture system in the Linn and Johnson corridor. 

Local food system planning was Jason’s focus during his undergraduate education at Iowa State in Landscape Architecture & Environmental Studies. In 2008 Jason received an ISU Department of Landscape Architecture Barbara King Scholarship and a University Honors Project Grant to fund his senior thesis Food Urbanism that he termed based on his interests in urban planning and urban food systems. His research, how food relates to the organization of a city and how it becomes infrastructure that transforms the urban experience, included research on urban agriculture in London and interviews with officials and local producers in Ames, Iowa and the surrounding counties. His research awarded him with a 2009 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) President’s Award for academic excellence, and an ASLA Certificate of Honor.

Today in addition to his food system planning work with the Task Force he reads, writes and gives many presentations about the potential and importance of urban agriculture and local food systems.  Jason and his wife live in the Iowa City area where they are heavily involved in many other organizations and work heavily with their family's small farm near Williamsburg, Iowa.