Iowa Schools Taste Local Food | Des Moines News

Iowa’s first-year Choose Iowa school food grant program delivered big flavor—and big lessons. Thirty-three schools split a $70,000 pot, each able to snag up to $1,000 if they matched it, funding local food purchases from registered vendors. Districts like Waukee and Pella used the cash for events like Iowa Local Food Day, sparking student excitement for fresh, farm-to-table meals. While the grants helped ease budgets, many schools found the amounts too small—and matching funds and finding local vendors proved tough, especially in rural areas. Now, the state is collecting feedback to refine the program, aiming to scale it up with smarter funding and more flexible rules next time. This pilot proves that feeding kids local food isn’t just good for their health—it’s good for the whole state economy. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/ae97041a7674958e