Iowa (IA)

Explore information on farm to school participation by Iowa (IA) school food authorities (SFAs) that responded to the Census and the schools and students they serve. Use the tools below to dig deeper into farm to school in Iowa.

State Profile for Iowa

Census Responses for Iowa

Total number of responding School Food Authorities (SFAs)
268
Total number of schools in responding SFAs
781
Total number of students in responding SFAs
313,998
Farm to School Participation
60.4% (162)
of SFAs participating in SY2018-2019

Key Census Findings for Iowa

Dig in on how farm to school is being cultivated across Iowa.

Length of farm to school participation by SFAs in Iowa

Farm to school has been picking up momentum over the last 10 years. See how long SFAs in Iowa have been going local.

Percent of F2S SFAs Total F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years
 
 67.3%
109
3-5 years
 
 14.2%
23
6-10 years
 
 9.9%
16
More than 10 years
 
 8%
13
Don't know
 
 0.6%
1
What is an SFA? Is it different from a school district?
545 schools

224,028 students in participating SFAs

Food tray

Farm to school participation in Iowa

Farm to school is growing in Iowa! Local food and agricultural education activities are showing up in the cafeteria, the classroom, and the garden. Check out how many schools and students are served by farm to school SFAs.
66%

107 SFAs

Apple cars

Iowa SFAs serving local food

Farm to school means more fresh, local food is on the menu. Across the country, SFAs engaged in farm to school report serving higher quality foods in school meals and increased participation in school meals.

Child Nutrition Programs in Iowa using local food in school year 2018-2019

Nationally, a majority of farm to school SFAs have been serving local food in school meals and snacks. See how many SFAs in Iowa are leveraging local foods.

Percent of F2S SFAs in Program Total F2S SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP
 
 58.6%
95
Use local foods in SBP
 
 47%
63
Use local foods in the FFVP
 
 47.9%
23
Use local foods in CACFP
 
 73.7%
28
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk
 
 61.5%
8
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO
 
 53.2%
33
61.1%

99 SFAs

Teacher with class

Iowa SFAs providing food, nutrition, or agricultural education

Farm to school activities include experiential learning in the classroom, in the garden, and on the farm. Iowa SFAs offer opportunities such as taste testing, school gardening, and farm field trips.
36.4%

59 SFAs

Vegetable garden

Iowa SFAs that have edible gardens

School gardens are becoming a popular outdoor extension of the classroom. Across the curriculum, school gardens can bring learning to life and produce food to serve in school meals.

Food and nutrition education in Iowa

Farm to school activities can include educational experiences in the classroom, the garden, and on the farm. See how SFAs in Iowa are bringing farm to school alive with hands-on learning.

Percent of F2S SFAs Total F2S SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos
 
 31.5%
51
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials
 
 12.3%
20
Use educational edible school garden
 
 25.3%
41
Hold student field trips to farms
 
 30.9%
50
Have Farmers Visit
 
 11.1%
18
Do farm to school activities in pre-K
 
 12.3%
20

Local foods served daily or weekly in meals or snacks

As farm to school has grown, so have the local options students enjoy at meal time. Many schools are serving fresh and local fruits, vegetables, dairy, proteins, or grains daily, a few times a week, or weekly. Schools meet federal nutritional standards and students get healthy, flavorful, options.

Percent of F2S SFAs Total F2S SFAs
Serve local fruit at least weekly
 
 19.1% 31
Serve local vegetables at least weekly
 
 19.8% 32
Serve local milk at least weekly
 
 32.7% 53
Serve other local dairy at least weekly
 
 13% 21
Serve local protein at least weekly
 
 5.6% 9
Serve local grains at least weekly
 
 8% 13

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