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

Total School Food Authorities (SFAs)

442

Total Schools*

1,338

Total Students*

535,059

Farm to School Participation

75.1% (332)

of SFAs participating in SY 2022-23

*Total schools and total students taken from SFA reporting to FNS of schools and students participating in the National School Lunch Program.

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	Number of F2S SFAs
Less than 3 years	61.1%	203
3-5 years	22.3%	74
6-10 years	9.9%	33
More than 10 years	6.6%	22

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 in SFAs that responded to the Census and do farm to school.

Iowa SFAs serving local food

Farm to school means more fresh, local food is on the menu. Across the country, SFAs report serving higher quality foods in school meals and increased student consumption of fruits and vegetables as outcomes of engaging in farm to school.

Child Nutrition Programs in Iowa using local food in school year 2022-2023

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 SFAs	Number of SFAs
Use local foods in NSLP	53.4%	236
Use local foods in SBP	34.8%	154
Use local foods in the FFVP	13.3%	59
Use local foods in CACFP	4.8%	21
Use local foods in CACFP At-Risk	0%	0
Use local foods in SFSP/SSO	13.3%	59

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.

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 SFAs	Number of SFAs
Hold taste tests & cooking demos	16.7%	74
Use USDA Team Nutrition materials	6.6%	29
Hold student field trips to farms	13.1%	58
Have farmers visit	9%	40

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 SFAs	Number of SFAs
Serve local fruit at least weekly	35.3%	156
Serve local vegetables at least weekly	36.7%	162
Serve local milk at least weekly	35.7%	158
Serve other local dairy at least weekly	17.9%	79
Serve local protein at least weekly	12.9%	57
Serve local grains at least weekly	14.7%	65

Iowa (IA)

State Profile for Iowa

Key Census Findings for Iowa