MASON CITY — Local partners in North Iowa received a planning grant through the USDA Farm to School Program. The purpose of the grant is to bring nutritious, local foods into schools and create new economic opportunities for farmers.
“From pre-K to high school, farm to school programs benefit everyone from students and teachers to parents and producers,” said Brandon Lipps, Acting Deputy under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. “Connecting people to their food builds stronger ties to community agriculture and an appreciation for those who care for our land.”
The grants have been proven to produce positive outcomes for schools and communities alike. For example, the Oneida Indian Nation used its 2016 Farm to School grant to invest in an aquaponics system that enables the harvest of lettuce and tilapia, which will be used in school meals at Oneida Nation High School.
The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health, West Fork Community School District, Mason City Community School District, CAL/HD Community School District, ISU Extension & Outreach – Cerro Gordo County, North Iowa Fresh, and Healthy Harvest of North Iowa will partner to carry out the goals of this grant. Grant objectives include bringing together producers, school administrators and staff, and stakeholders to create an action plan for local food procurement in schools. Students will be involved via taste-testing, leadership teams, and education. The majority of the grant work will take place during the 2018-2019 school year.
For more information about Farm to School programming, please contact Katelyn Nicholson at 641-421-9342.
Is this in addition to the “pink slime” on the menu, ha ha. Claim the ignorance card.
Know some poor people that would like this OPTION !