Institutional buyers of fresh, whole produce need assurances that growers followed safe food handling practices during production, harvest and delivery. These buyers may include the food service staff at schools, hospitals, care facilities and others. The US Food and Drug Administration offers guidelines for farmers to follow, known as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). But third-party … Continue reading New tool helps food service evaluate on-farm food safety practices
In Iowa, the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly closed restaurants and schools in March 2020. For farmers selling food to those outlets, it immediately created uncertainty about the upcoming growing season. Farmers like Hannah Breckbill from Humble Hands Harvest near Decorah had a high tunnel full of spinach ready to sell. She recalls, “We weren’t sure whether … Continue reading Farmers move online in response to pandemic
by Chelsea Krist, FFED farm to school specialist Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition partners recently won a Farm to Early Care and Education Implementation Grant. The Association of State Public Health Nutritionists funded the project. Its title is Racial Equity in Iowa Farm to School and Early Care: Advancing Outcomes through Process, … Continue reading “Local Food Makes Cents: For Iowa Kids and Farmers” awards $43,000 to Iowa early care sites
Kayla Koether wrote this feature as part of a newly released report on the impacts of the 2020 IDALS Local Produce and Protein Grant on the Iowa Food Hub Managers Working Group (FHMWG). Though North Iowa Fresh (NIF) has been building markets for local food in the Clear Lake and Mason City region since 2016, … Continue reading New grant supports North Iowa Fresh, farm to school