On October 13th, school districts, community centers, and private schools across the state participate in Iowa Local Food Day, a Farm to School initiative that brings food from local Iowa farmers to students throughout Iowa. Field to Family is honored and excited to once again procure delicious, healthy, local produce for kids across the state!
For 2021, Field to Family sourced 16 local crops from 8 farmers to 8 school districts in our region! We enjoy partnering with school Nutrition Directors and food service staff to source local and healthy to our next generation! 2021 Iowa Local Food Day !
Enjoying local for lunch this week includes over 50 school buildings and 8 school districts, sourced from 8 local farmers!
- Iowa City Schools Nutrition Services Department
- College Community School District
- Clear Creek Amana Community School District
- Williamsburg Community School District
- Vinton Shellsburg Community Schools
- Solon Community School District
- Union Community School District
- Williamsburg Community Childcare
While a few of these institutions serve locally sourced food items regularly, on Iowa Local Food Day, they make it a celebration and often serve several local items!
Special thanks to Buffalo Ridge Orchard, Country View Dairy, WW Homestead Dairy, Grimm Family Farms, Friendly Farm, Wilson’s Orchard, Flint Ridge Organics and All Seasons Harvest.
List of local foods on the school lunch menu this week:
Apples (LOTS!) Kale, Cherry Tomatoes, Grape Tomatoes, Delicata Squash, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Green Bell Peppers, Red Bell Peppers, Butternut Squash, Potatoes, cottage cheese, and Yogurt (regular, greek and frozen!).
Learn more about the statewide celebration here: https://www.iowalocalfoodday.org/
Additionally, we are working with FoodCorps who brings the Pick a Better Snack program to 6 schools in the Cedar Rapids Community School District to help them celebrate a week of local food Oct. 18-22, as October is Farm to School month.