(Undated)– Several northwest Iowa schools are among 125 statewide receiving Choose Iowa funding to help put more Iowa-grown and raised food on student menus.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced the awards Wednesday. Each recipient will receive approximately $1,600 and must provide at least an equal financial match, supporting approximately $3,200 or more in local food purchases per participant.
Local recipients include the Sheldon and Spencer Community School Districts and Sacred Heart Catholic School in Spencer.
The program’s $200,000 state allocation was divided evenly among all eligible applicants. Required school matching funds will bring total purchasing power to at least $400,000 statewide. Eligible purchases include meat and poultry, dairy products other than milk, flour and small grains, eggs, honey, and produce. Food must be purchased from Choose Iowa members.
This is the program’s first year with permanent funding, authorized through the bipartisan 2026 Iowa Farm Act. It follows a 2025 pilot in which 61 schools or school districts requested more than twice the $70,000 available. Naig says that pilot ultimately funded 33 recipients…
The program aims to connect schools with Iowa farmers and food businesses, creating markets for agricultural products while giving students access to locally produced food.
Consumers can find participating farms, food businesses, farmers’ markets, and retailers through the Find Local directory at ChooseIowa.com.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting’s Sioux County Radio)
