Page 8 - Clear Lake Mirror Reporter E-Edition 2-3-2016

Ag./BusinessPage 8 • Feb. 3, 2016
Mica Harris
named new
manager at
Cerro Gordo
County Free
Health Care
Clinic
The Cerro Gordo County Free
Health Care Clinic is pleased to an-
nounce the hiring of a new Clinic
Manager. Mica Harris takes over
for Karen Slife, who is retiring this
month.
“I am honored to be a part of
the Cerro Gordo County Free Health
Care Clinic, as I have a long-standing
passion for social justice in health
care. I look forward to serving my
community and working with the
many volunteers involved in provid-
ing services to patients that are under- Chamber of Commerce’s newest member. Welcoming them is the Clear Lake First Mates. -Submitted photo
and un-insured,” said Harris.
Through the years Harris has
worked at Heritage Care Center as a
charge nurse, Mercy Medical Center
-North Iowa as a home care nurse, in-
fusion specialist, NICU nurse, GI lab
nurse, and PICC team leader.
Harris received an associate in
arts degree from North Iowa Area
Community College, an associate de-
gree in nursing from North Iowa Area
Community College, a baccalaure-
ate of science degree in nursing from
The University of Iowa, a master’s of
science degree in nursing leadership
and management and a post-master’s
certificate in nursing education from
Walden University. She has a doctor-
ate in nursing practice from St. Cathe-
rine University and is a board certified first is an online pre-workshop activity tration time for this workshop will be
nurse executive.
Free Clinic Board President Amy
Fleming says, “We’ve found a true
gem in Mica Harris. The board of
directors is thrilled to have Mica take
over as Clinic Manager. She will be an
incredible asset to the clinic’s needs.” Iowa Farm to School local
“I’m excited to start my new role
and look forward to helping patients
receive the medical care they need,”
said Harris. “The Affordable Care Act
has been pivotal in increasing access to produce schools
health care for many people, but we
continue to have a significant number
of people who are without health care
coverage. It is these patients that rely
on services provided by the free clinic
to maintain their health and wellness.
This is important to me and I am
grateful for the opportunity.”
Harris has three children, Zach-
ary, Caleb, and Noah. She also has a
granddaughter, Vera Harris.
Clinic hours
The Cerro Gordo County Free
Health Care Clinic is open the second
and fourth Saturdays of each month,
from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Patients can
call 888-669-4662 to schedule an ap-
pointment.
The Free Clinic serves uninsured/
underinsured Cerro Gordo county
residents at 1327 6th St. SW, in Ma-
son City.
Chamber welcomes Diamond Jo
Diamond Jo Casino General Manager Kim Pang and his staff participated in a ribbon cutting as the Clear Lake Area
MarketReady workshop planned
for small scale local food producers
Iowa State University Extension
and Outreach, in partnership with
Healthy Harvest of North Iowa and
North Iowa Area Community Col-
lege, is offering a workshop to teach
small-scale producers how meet the
demands of wholesale markets.
Iowa MarketReady Training is
for local food producers who cur-
rently sell their products directly
to consumers and are looking into
wholesale marketing to restaurants,
grocery stores and institutions. It is
not intended for home gardeners.
This course is taught in two parts, the
that is viewed at home before attend-
ing the face-to-face workshop. At the
workshop, attendees will hear from a
panel of grocery produce buyers and
restaurant chefs.
purchase report now available
Report helps
farmers know what
want to buy and
the price being
paid
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill
Northey has announced that the Iowa
Farm to School Local Purchase Report
is now available. The Iowa report is
the first in the nation to track month-
ly procurement of locally-grown pro-
duce (within Iowa and a 30 mile radi-
us surrounding the state) from school
food service directors.
“This report is designed to help
farmers interested in supplying schools
know what types of produce schools
want and the price that is being paid
for it. The consistent and reliable in- on the Iowa Department of Agricul-
“MarketReady training helps
commercial food producers decide
whether they are ready to expand
to meet the demands of a wholesale
market,” said Linda Naeve, extension
program specialist in the value added
agriculture program at Iowa State
University. “It provides them with the
tools they need to meet the market de-
mands.”
This one-day training workshop
will be held in Mason City, Iowa on
Saturday, March 5, at the North Iowa
Area Community College in the Pap-
pajohn Center, room 117. The regis-
7:30 a.m. with the workshop begin-
ning at 8 a.m.
Cost for the workshop is $20 for
Healthy Harvest Buy Fresh Buy Local
formation included in the report is
extremely valuable in helping farmers
build a business that includes market-
ing directly to schools,” Northey said.
“In addition, it may help schools not
yet purchasing local produce learn
what other schools are buying as they
consider starting to add local foods to
their menu.”
The Iowa Department of Agricul-
ture and Land Stewardship is partner-
ing with USDA’s Agricultural Market-
ing Service (AMS) on these monthly
reports. School food service directors
are asked to complete a report on lo-
cal produce procurement monthly. As
with all AMS reports, the information
is confidential and only products and
price ranges are shared.
The monthly report can be found
ture and Land Stewardship website at
www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lsmi-
afts.pdf.
members and $40 for non-members
and includes training materials, lunch
and refreshments. Pre-registration is
required to attend the workshop and
must be received no later than 10 days
prior to the workshop.
Registration deadline is Feb. 24.
This program is being sponsored
by Healthy Harvest of North Iowa
and North Iowa Area Community
College.
For more information or to reg-
ister, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/ a business fall under two broad cate-
valueaddedag/content/market-ready-
food-safety-training.
Clear Lake Mirror-Reporter
Healthy Harvest schedules
Produce for Profit session
Healthy Harvest of North Iowa Evelsizer, Project Coordinator for
is offering the second of their Win- Healthy Harvest. “There are so many
ter Producer Workshop Series as a things to consider. Chris has a lot of
webinar on Thursday, Feb. 25, from experience with pricing for farmers
7-8:30 p.m. “How to Price Produce markets, CSA’s and wholesale. He will
for Profit” will help producers to navi- give us a lot to think about and offer
gate pricing strategies to meet their suggestions on how to set prices for
customers’ needs and their farm’s bot- different markets. ”
tom line. Please register in advance
The presenter, Chris Blanchard, for this workshop by going to
is the owner of The Purple Pitchfork, https://2016workshop2.eventbrite.
which offers consulting and education com.
for farming, food, and business. You can find the link to log onto
“Figuring out how to price your the webinar by going to www.northio-
products can be tricky,” said Andrea wafood.org.
Free Start Smart Workshops
to be offered in February
North Iowa Area Community ous other topics including: business
College (NIACC) and the Small Busi- registration, doing customer research,
ness Development Center (SBDC) how bankers evaluate business con-
will offer a free two-hour workshop cepts and loans, start-up costs, busi-
designed for anyone who is consid- ness plan tips and more.
ering starting a business. At Start After attending Start Smart,
Smart, participants will learn how Small Business Development Center
to create a business plan, do market (SBDC) staff will be available to assist
research, consider different types of participants in reviewing their busi-
business ownership, and learn how to ness plan, or provide guidance with
register a business. other issues.
Mason City Start Smart will be To register, contact Mary
held Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 6-8 Spitz, SBDC office at NIACC:
p.m. in Room 117 at the NIACC 641.422.4342 or spitzmar@niacc.
Pappajohn Center, 500 College Drive, edu.
Mason City. The Small Business Develop-
The activities involved in starting ment Center (SBDC) is funded in part
through a cooperative agreement with
gories—feasibility (the business plan) the U.S. Small Business Administra-
and administrative tasks. While we tion. Reasonable accommodations for
like to focus on the feasibility issue, persons with disabilities will be made if
Start Smart provides information and requested at least two weeks in advance.
the chance to ask questions on numer- Contact Brook Boehmler, North Iowa
Areas SBDC, at 641-422-4342.