What is Farm To School?
Iowa Lawmakers passed Farm to School legislation in 2007 to establish a program that would:
- Link elementary, secondary, public and non-public schools with Iowa farmers;
- Provide schools with fresh and minimally processed Iowa-grown food for inclusion in school meals and snacks; and
- Encourage children to develop healthy eating habits and provide them with hands-on learning activities.
The Farm to School Program is coordinated by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in partnership with the Iowa Department of Education.
Iowa’s Farm to School mission is to encourage and promote the purchase of locally produced food in our schools and early care centers, strengthen the farm economy and offer educational opportunities to improve child nutrition and health.
Iowa Farm to Summer Campaign
Visit the Iowa Farm to Summer Campaign Website for more information.
Iowa Farm to School Directories
There are two Farm to School directories to help schools and farms find each other. Both directories are hosted on MarketMaker, a national web-based food marketing tool.
Iowa Farm to School – Producer Directory
This statewide directory provides a list of farms and food businesses who sell to, or are interested in, selling to schools, colleges and early care centers. Farms using this directory have products licensed for use in child feeding programs. All producers are reviewed annually by the Procurement Strategy team of the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition or the Iowa Hub to Hub Network.
Iowa Farm to School and Early Care - Site Directory
This statewide directory provides a list of schools and early care sites interested in purchasing foods from Iowa farms. Sites listed have a history of purchasing local food or are participating in farm to school activities. This directory is maintained by the Procurement Strategy team of the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition.
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To search the directories:
- Click on the directory link and “Search for Businesses.” Click on the map icon on the right side to quickly find farms or schools near you.
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To be listed in the directories:
- Producers – create a MarketMaker profile and add “Iowa Farm to School Producer Directory” under the affiliation page.
- Schools or Early Care Sites – program staff will create a profile for you. Complete this short form to provide the key details. You will receive an email to claim that profile and you can manage other details at that point.
Make it Fresh: A Guide to Procuring Local Foods
Make it Fresh is a resource from the Iowa Department of Education. This document aims to assist Child Nutrition Program operators in navigating the regulations by providing information and resources that operators need to successfully incorporate local products into their menus.
Make it Fresh: A Guide to Procuring Local Foods
Farm to school programs feature school purchases of food (commonly fresh fruits and vegetables) from local farmers. Nutrition lessons can be coordinated with the fresh produce being served for lunch. Programs can also include Ag-in-the-Classroom curriculum, school gardens, food tastings and cooking classes, and farm visits, all of which get kids excited about healthy food.
Locally grown usually means grown nearby and includes anything grown in Iowa.
Locally grown food can be offered as part of a hot lunch, breakfast, as snacks or, as in some schools, offered on a salad bar.
Senate File 601 passed in 2007 has given initial funding for the farm to school program in Iowa. The program is being coordinated through both the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Department of Education. Prior to this year no funding has been appropriated from state appropriations.
Amy Gamble is the Iowa Farm to School Program coordinator. She works to promote the program and connect farmers and schools. Amy can be reached at the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Ag Diversification and Market Development Bureau, phone 515-281-7657 or email: amy.gamble@iowaagriculture.gov.
Farmers can list their products on the Farm to School Directory. New listings must be approved before they appear on the directory. Farmers can also call and make an appointment directly with a local school district. Take your business materials (price and crop list, business card, references) and perhaps a sample for the Food Service Director. Or you can inquire about existing farm to school programs that might connect you to a group of farmers that sell or deliver together. Contact the Farm to School Program at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Farm to school programs contribute to children’s health by helping kids develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. According to research into existing farm to school efforts, students choose significantly more servings of fruits and vegetables when given the choice of high quality, farm-fresh produce. When they are well-nourished, children learn better.
Schools can browse the Farm to School Directory to find locally produced products. Schools can contact the producer directly, or create an account to submit a bid request online.