Iowa school districts receive funding to buy Iowa food

Public and private schools across Iowa are receiving funding to purchase Iowa grown and raised food.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that 125 Iowa public and private schools will receive funding through the Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program to purchase Iowa grown and raised food. Each participating school will receive about $1,600, which will be matched at least one-to-one by the school to double the impact and generate additional purchases of local food. The program funding was evenly distributed among schools so that every eligible school that applied for the program received funding.

In the QCA, Bennett Community School District, Davenport Community School District, Durant Community School District, Easton Valley Community School District, Louisa – Muscatine Community School District, Muscatine Community School District, Pleasant Valley Community School District and Tipton Community School District are receiving funding. Click here for the full lists of schools receiving funding.

The announcement comes a week before Iowa Local Food Day on September 23. The annual event celebrates Iowa grown, made and raised food and beverages.

“Choose Iowa is all about connecting more Iowans with the great food, beverages and agricultural products produced right here in our state,” said Naig. “Now in its second year, we continue to see strong demand for the Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools program, demonstrating the desire to serve more fresh, healthy and nutritious Iowa foods to students.”

“I’m going to continue asking the Iowa Legislature for additional funding to grow the program so even more students can benefit from it. As we look ahead to Iowa Local Food Day, I encourage all Iowans to celebrate by choosing local whenever they can.”

The Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program is in its first year with permanent funding. It provides $200,000 to help participating schools buy eligible Iowa food products through seven Iowa food hubs. The required one-to-one school match will leverage at least an additional $200,000 in local purchases, generating at least $400,000 in total purchasing power for Iowa grown and raised food.

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