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Little food pantries in Marshall County have seen an increase in the amount of fresh produce, adding to the bounty donated by Master Gardeners.
Marshall County Extension Program Coordinator Chelsea Llewellyn told the Marshall County Food Access Committee during a Tuesday meeting that the Master Gardeners are operating 11 garden sites throughout the county.
"It's been ebbing and flowing in the last couple years due to all of the school construction and relocating," she said. "We're currently down a couple [sites, Miller Middle School and East Marshall High School in Gilman] but we will get them back. It's been a wild two years."
The garden next to the Marshall County Extension office took a big hit from a fox, she reported. On the positive side, Llewellyn said produce from the garden close to the House of Compassion has managed regular deliveries to the House and to the Emergency Food Box. A lot of the produce placed in the little free pantries is provided by the larger pantry outside of the Extension.
"I have no idea what we donated so far," she said. "Last year we donated 1,600 pounds. It has slowly been increasing through the years. So, hopefully 1,700 pounds."
Community members have donated an increased amount of tomatoes and cucumbers. Llewellyn has not seen an influx of squashes yet, but is sure that is right around the corner.
"People are literally coming with huge crates of leftover tomatoes from their garden," she said.
Some managers of the little food pantries also reported an increase in the amount of donated produce. The pantry on the Elim Church property has received so many tomatoes the manager has not been able to donate her own.
Following little pantry updates, Marshalltown Community School District Director of Food Service Lynn Large reported proposed legislation reducing the cost of school meals might not impact MCSD as greatly as other districts. MCSD is using the Community Eligibility Provision, the federal program which allows all enrolled students in high poverty districts to receive free meals. However, she added the legislation is an "awesome step."
Large was asked if she had seen new nutritional regulations from the federal government during the last two years. The last major overhaul of school nutrition, she said, was in 2012.
"THere have been some phased-in targets," Large said. "There's new sugar standards for breakfast which go into effect in the fall of 2027. There's not any major changes, but tightening of nutrition standards."
Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.