Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Current Competitive Grant

Increasing access to healthy, fresh and local food to students in three rural public schools in northeast Iowa

NOTE: Work on this grant project has been completed and is awaiting a final report.

Project ID: M2010-18

This 2-year grant for $39,280 was awarded in 2010.

Location: Butler, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall counties

The investigator organized a workshop on “Growing Local Lunches,” aimed at local farmers interested in selling to schools or otherwise being more involved in farm to school programming. In consultation with Waverly‐Shell Rock schools and Genuine Faux Farm, they revised ISU Extension’s “Checklist for Retail Purchasing of Local Produce” to target schools’ specific needs, and are in the process of becoming a clearinghouse for these forms. They held an event to bring together local growers who are interested in selling to institutions, and area businesses that are interested in buying more locally grown food.

Andrea Geary

Andrea Geary Andrea Geary is program coordinator for Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership. She is responsible for promoting local food on a regional basis, fostering relationships between consumers, producers and community entities, as well as working to expand the counties served. [Contact lead investigator]

This competitive grant project is part of the Leopold Center's Marketing Initiative.

Topics: Farm to institution, Fruit and vegetables