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DES MOINES -- Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recently 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 approximately $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 allocated by the Iowa Legislature was evenly distributed among schools so that every eligible school that applied for the program received funding. Those area schools receiving grants in central Iowa include: Baxter Community School District, Eldora-New Providence Community School District, Grinnell-Newburg Community School District, Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District and West Marshall Community School District.
The announcement comes one week ahead of Iowa Local Food Day on Sept. 23, an annual celebration of Iowa grown, made and raised food and beverages. Naig is encouraging schools, families and all Iowans to join the celebration by choosing local foods and supporting Iowa farmers and food businesses.
The Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program helps build relationships among Iowa farmers, food businesses, food hubs and schools while creating demand for Iowa agricultural products. It complements the permanent Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program, which similarly connects Iowa farmers and food businesses with food banks and emergency feeding organizations.
Consumers can find nearby farms, food businesses, farmers markets, retail locations and other local food options by visiting the Find Local directory at ChooseIowa.com.