Northeast Iowa Farm to School Program

Connecting Kids and their Food

One of the activities being used by the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative to increase the access of healthy, locally grown food to the children in our area is a Farm to School program.

These programs connect schools with local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and supporting local small farmers.

HOME GROWN SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK

The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative invites your school to participate in Home Grown School Lunch Week, October 5-9, 2009.

What Is Home Grown School Lunch Week?
Food Service Directors in local school systems will offer local items on the school lunch menu during the week. Nutrition education information will be provided to students, and teachers will receive lessons focused on nutrition and the benefits of using Iowa-grown foods. School and student groups such as the FFI Youth Teams, FFA, and 4-H are encouraged to create and participate in Farm-to-School events. Students can also participate by buying local foods and packing a Iowa Home Grown Lunch.

How can schools get involved?
Have students develop and implement school-based activities:

• Advertise and promote Iowa Home Grown School Lunch Week.
• Serve a locally grown food item one day—or every day.
• Promote a different Iowa food each day of the week.
• Invite parents and grandparents to eat lunch with their child.
• Taste-test new foods for the school lunch menu.
• Hold a Health and Nutrition Fair or Family Fun Night.
• Have students trace the path of a favorite food from the field to plate.
• Assemble a display of books and media in libraries.
• Produce a class cookbook showcasing Iowa products. 
• Make apple cider, apple butter, applesauce, or maple syrup.
• Arrange a field trip to a participating local farm.
• Invite a local farmer to come to speak with your students.
• Invite a chef to do a cooking demonstration using local foods.
• Have nutritionists visit the classroom.
• Have students produce a calendar of seasonal availability of foods.

How do we register our school?
The Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative has received funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s  Farm to School program  to offer twelve, $300 mini-grants to schools to purchase local food for this event.   Applications due  September 29.  For additional information, please contact Teresa Wiemerslage at 563-794-0599.

It's EASY!  Two ways to register:  online or download the form below and fax to 563-568-6346.

Schools will be notified of their selection by October 2.   Written documentation of local food purchase and a final report is required to receive the grant.  Final report includes the following:  audience reached, activities conducted, audience feedback of the event, total dollars spent on local food and at least 3 photos.  Photos and activities will be shared at the FFI Fall Conference on Oct 20.