New state program supports Iowa farmers and food banks

By Andi Anderson

A new state initiative in Iowa aims to support both farmers and food banks. The Choose Iowa program, launched at the state fair last year, is expanding its mission through a pilot food purchasing program designed to benefit food banks.

Choose Iowa is the state’s signature brand for locally sourced products, explained Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. Farmers and businesses that are members of Choose Iowa can use the program's logo for promotional purposes.

“If consumers see two products and one has the Iowa logo on it, they’re inclined to buy that one because they know it has a local impact," Naig said.

The pilot food purchasing program for food banks is a key part of this initiative. The state is distributing $225,000 among six food banks and the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) as an incentive to buy local produce.

Participating food banks must match the state funds, effectively doubling the amount spent on local goods.

DMARC, a participating food pantry network, welcomed the program. According to Marketing and Communications Manager Blake Willadsen, buying local produce can be challenging.

In the past year, only 5% of the one million pounds of produce offered by DMARC was purchased from Iowa producers. “Sometimes those are really cost prohibitive items, and we can’t get enough from just one farmer or two farmers to provide it across those 14 different pantries," Willadsen explained.

The program allows food banks to add variety to their selection, including culturally specific items like okra. "Imagine you’re someone who grew up down south and you’ve moved up here to Iowa and you’re going to a food pantry for the first time and you see okra," Willadsen said. "It just gives you a little taste of home."

Although specific farmers have yet to sign onto the project, it already has support from some local producers. Steve Kerns, an Iowa pork producer, believes the program will help local farmers because it subsidizes the purchases food banks make.

While the program is currently in its pilot phase, Naig hopes it will yield positive results and become a permanent fixture. The initial focus will be on dairy products, meat, poultry, eggs, honey, and produce. Food banks are required to use the distributed funds to buy from Choose Iowa members.

The state also plans to launch a similar program for school cafeterias early next year. This expansion comes as food insecurity continues to rise in Iowa, making initiatives like Choose Iowa increasingly important.

By encouraging local purchases, the Choose Iowa program aims to strengthen the state's agricultural community and ensure that fresh, locally grown food is accessible to those in need.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoran-zeremski