Back to school with better lunch

by Andrea Love

A new grant program is helping several Iowa schools serve fresh local food while strengthening connections between students and community farms.

This spring, 33 Iowa schools and districts were chosen to participate in the Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program for Schools. The initiative offers up to $1,000 in grant funding, matched dollar-for-dollar by each school’s own funds, to buy food that is grown, raised or produced in Iowa.

Administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the one-year pilot program is designed to support both student nutrition and Iowa’s farmers and producers. Qualifying items include meat and poultry, eggs, honey, dairy (excluding milk, which is covered under a separate federal program) and produce, all sourced from Choose Iowa-certified members.

David Walker, the nutrition director for the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, says the program aligns with the district’s efforts to offer nutritious food options and support local businesses while also educating students about where their food comes from.

The program also helps Walker introduce students to foods that might be new to them. Last year, through another farm-to-table program, Walker purchased and served fresh summer squash, which many of the kids tried for the first time. “It’s not something we’re normally able to buy. A lot of kids have never had it or seen it, so it was great to offer,” he said. Many of the kids who tried it told him they liked it.

Since joining the district 12 years ago, Walker has seen changes in students’ attitudes toward healthy food. Today, students are more willing to try new items, especially when they know it comes from their community.

“Programs like this help that,” he said. “When they see it’s grown locally, it gives them a reason to try it.”

Walker also noted that some of his Bondurant-Farrar students’ parents are local producers who participate in the Choose Iowa program, adding another layer of connection and pride.

The Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program was authorized by the 2024 Iowa Legislature and is part of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig’s broader Choose Iowa initiative. It’s a branding effort to promote food, beverages and ag products that are grown, raised or made in Iowa.

“This Choose Iowa pilot program is yet another way we’re connecting Iowa farmers and small businesses with schools to provide fresh, local and nutritious food to our students,” Secretary Naig said in a news release earlier this year.

Walker believes the program naturally benefits everyone involved. As he put it, “Any time students can see locally grown items, and we can partner with local farmers, it’s a win-win situation for everyone.”