Research and Reports
Click the links below to access research and reports
on Iowa Farm to School efforts.
Local Food for Schools Round 1 Progress Report
The Local Food for Schools program launched in September 2022 and provided K-12 schools up to $8000 to purchase foods from local farms. Iowa used a farmer-focused model where food hubs acted as the primary award sponsors and distributors for the program.
Impacts of the Local Produce and Protein Program
In August 2020 the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship awarded Local Produce and Protein Program (LPPP) grants to K-12 schools. This report is from the Iowa Food Hub Managers Working Group (FHMWG) on the impact of that funding.
One Year Later: Iowa Farm to School Sales through Food Hubs
Food hubs contributed to making the Local Produce and Protein Program a success. Funds were not available in 2021 to support the LPPP, so most schools purchased local foods with no outside financial incentives. This report documents the decrease in sales observed.
Food hubs reported over $2.5 million in sales in 2023. They worked with over 350 farms and food businesses. Over $335,000 of those sales were through the Hub to Hub Network where food hubs cooperated to sell products between each other, filling gaps member farmers couldn't fill and to create more robust offerings to customers.