Local Food Procurement Coaches Available
Schools and early care sites in Iowa have a new resource to help them with their local food procurement goals.
As the farm to school and early care movement continues to grow in Iowa, schools need more customized assistance.
“It can be fairly easy for schools to source a few local products in the fall as part of October Farm to School Month celebrations,” said Teresa Wiemerslage, field specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
“But if we want schools, colleges and early care sites to be significant markets for local food products, we need to be more deliberate with menu planning and product sourcing throughout the entire school year. That requires a plan,” said Wiemerslage.
The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Community Food Systems Team trains people as local food procurement coaches for schools and childcare centers.
Funding for the training program was provided by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to the Iowa Farmers Union. Iowa State’s food system’s team is a partner in the grant project.
The coaches are local food experts in their communities. They have knowledge of the local food system and are connected to farms, farmers markets and food hubs.
The coaches completed approximately eight hours of online education. They successfully demonstrated competency in federal and state procurement regulations, school nutrition programs, sourcing local food in Iowa, completing common menu calculations and assisting a school wellness team with a local food procurement plan.
The coaches are then tasked with providing three to four hours of consultation time to schools and early care sites to create local food procurement plans. Sites interested in working with a local food procurement coach should contact Wiemerslage, wiemer@iastate.edu.
