Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program

Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program

“Back-to-school season is an exciting time for Iowa students, families and educators, and it is also a great opportunity to put more Iowa grown and raised food on school menus,” said Secretary Naig. “The Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program connects Iowa farmers and food businesses with new markets while giving students the opportunity to enjoy healthy local foods produced right here in Iowa. After seeing strong interest in the pilot program, I was pleased to lead the effort to make this program permanent through the bipartisan Iowa Farm Act and secure permanent funding to continue it into the future.”

Available Funds

$200,000 was appropriated to this program. Public and private K-12 school districts are eligible for grant funding.

School districts must provide a minimum of a one-to-one (1:1) financial match for the program award. In-kind contributions are not accepted. Funding will be divided between all eligible school district applicants. School districts will be assigned a Food Hub Sponsor. The food hub will be responsible for pre-authorization of purchases and vendor payments.

Selected Schools

The following school districts received grants:

ADM Community School District (Adel-DeSoto-Minburn)

Algona Community School District

Allamakee Community School District

Andrew Community School District

Aquin Catholic School (Cascade)

Audubon Community School District

Baxter Community School District

Beckman Catholic Schools (Dyersville)

Bedford Community School District

Belle Plaine Community School District

Belmond-Klemme Community School District

Bennett Community School District

Bondurant-Farrar Community School District

Bosco Catholic School System

Boyer Valley Community School District

CAL Community School District (Coulter-Alexander-Latimer)

CAM Community School District (Cumberland-Anita-Massena)

Centerville Community School District

Central Lee Community School District

Chariton Community School District

Clarinda Community School District

Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Community School District

Clarke Community School District

Clear Creek-Amana Community School District

Clear Lake Community School District

College Community School District (Cedar Rapids-Prairie)

Council Bluffs Community School District

Danbury Catholic School

Davenport Community School District

Davis County Community School District

Decorah Community School District

Delwood Community School District (Delmar)

Diagonal Community School District

Dike-New Hartford Community School District

Dubuque Community School District

Durant Community School District

Earlham Community School District

Eastern Allamakee Community School District

Easton Valley Community School District

Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District

Eldora-New Providence Community School District

Essex Community School District

Exira-EHK Community School District (Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton)

Fairfield Community School District

Gilbert Community School District

Grinnell-Newburg Community School District

Griswold Community School District

Hampton-Dumont Community School District

Highland Community School District

Holy Family Catholic Schools (Dubuque)

Howard-Winneshiek Community School District

Hubbard-Radcliffe Community School District

Iowa City Community School District

Jesup Community School District

Johnston Community School District

La Salle Catholic School (Holy Cross)

Linn-Mar Community School District

Lone Tree Community School District

Louisa-Muscatine Community School District

Lynnville-Sully Community School District

Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto Community School District

Marquette Catholic School

Monticello Community School District

Moravia Community School District

Mount Vernon Community School District

Muscatine Community School District

Newman Catholic School (Mason City)

Newton Community School District

North Cedar Community School District

North Fayette Valley Community School District

North Linn Community School District

North Polk Community School District

Norwalk Community School District

OABCIG Community School District (Odebolt-Arthur-Battle Creek-Ida Grove)

Olin Community School District

Osage Community School District

Oskaloosa Community School District

Ottumwa Community School District

Pella Christian Schools

Pella Community School District

Perry Community School District

Pleasant Valley Community School District

Pleasantville Community School District

Postville Community School District

Riceville Community School District

River Valley Community School District

Riverside Community School District

Rock Valley Community School District

Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock (RRMR) Community School District

Sacred Heart Catholic School (Monticello)

Sacred Heart Catholic School (Spencer)

Seton Catholic School (Farley/Peosta)

Shelby County Catholic School

Sheldon Community School District

Solon Community School District

South Central Calhoun Community School District

South Winneshiek Community School District

Southeast Polk Community School District

Spencer Community School District

St. Athanasius School (Jesup)

St. Joseph Community School (New Hampton)

St. Patrick Catholic School (Waukon)

St. Teresa of Calcutta School (Ossian)

Starmont Community School District

Sumner-Fredericksburg Community School District

Tipton Community School District

Trinity Lutheran School (Cedar Rapids)

Tripoli Community School District

Urbandale Community School District

WACO Community School District (Wayland-Crawfordsville-Olds)

Wapsie Valley Community School District

Waterloo Community School District

Waukee Community School District

Waverly Shell Rock Community School District

West Central Community School District

West Des Moines Community School District

West Harrison Community School District

West Lyon Community School District

West Marshall Community School District

West Sioux Community School District

Western Dubuque Community School District

Westwood Community School District

Williamsburg Community School District

Winterset Community School District

Woodbine Community School District

Application

Applications were accepted from eligible school districts August 11 - August 31, 2026.

Eligible Producers

To be eligible for funding, food must be purchased from Choose Iowa members. A current list of members can be found in the Find Local Directory. If schools wish to purchase from specific Iowa producers, please encourage them to apply to become a Choose Iowa member as soon as possible to avoid reimbursement delays if they are not already members of the Choose Iowa brand program. Members enjoy a variety of benefits beyond being eligible to participate in this Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot. Visit the Choose Iowa website for more details on membership benefits. If producers need help enrolling in the program or have any questions, please direct them to chooseiowa@iowaagriculture.gov. The Choose Iowa team is happy to help producers.

Eligible Purchases

Schools may purchase meat and poultry, dairy products other than milk, flour and small grains, eggs, honey and produce.

Every school district participating in this program will work with a Food Hub Sponsor (FHS) to assist them with grant requirements. The food hubs serve two roles: 1) grant assistance and 2) source of food. The Food Hub Sponsor will pre-authorize purchases, issue farmer payments and manage the sub-awards and match balances for the school. The school is allowed to purchase from any Choose Iowa member.

The Food Hub Sponsor manages the Choose Iowa awards for the schools, and there is no requirement to buy from them. Schools can purchase from any farm or food hub that is a member of the Choose Iowa program. Food hubs are local food system experts and are a great resource to help schools connect to local food.

Selection Criteria

To be eligible for the Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools program, K-12 school districts must be in Iowa. Food is to be used in meals and activities during the school day. Each School Food Authority (SFA) can submit one application. Funds will be divided between all eligible applicants. Applicants will be notified of their award amount the week of September 8, 2026.

Procurement and Reimbursement Examples

A. Sample School wants to buy produce from their local food hub. 

  1. School applies for Choose Iowa award.
  2. School is assigned a Food Hub Sponsor (FHS).
  3. Food hub sends school a product availability list. Choose Iowa products are noted.
  4. School completes procurement process.
  5. School places order with food hub. 
  6. Food hub delivers product to the school with an invoice. 
    1. 50% of the invoice will be paid by the school as match. 
    2. 50% of the invoice will be submitted to IDALS for payment
  7. Food hub pays the farmer. 
  8. Food hub updates the schools award and match trackers.

B. Sample School wants to buy apples from a local orchard (aka Farmer Distribution)

  1. School applies for Choose Iowa award.
  2. School is assigned a Food Hub Sponsor (FHS).
  3. School completes procurement process.
  4. School notifies FHS their intention to buy from the orchard (farm and price)
  5. FHS confirms the farmer is a Choose Iowa member and approves or denies the purchase.  
  6. Farmer delivers apples to the school with an invoice.
  7. School sends invoice to Food Hub Sponsor for payment and tracking. This step also serves as proof of delivery. 
    1. School will pay the food hub 50% of the invoice as match. 
    2. 50% of the invoice will be submitted to IDALS for payment
  8. Food hub pays the farmer. 
  9. Food hub updates the schools award and match trackers

C. Sample School is nearing the end of their sub-award and does not have enough funds remaining for final purchase. 

  1. School applies for Choose Iowa award. 
  2. School is assigned a Food Hub Sponsor (FHS).
  3. School completes procurement process.
  4. School notifies FHS their intention to buy from a farmer. The purchase will be $400, but they only have $300 left of their award. 
  5. Farmer delivers product to the school with an invoice.
  6. School sends invoice to FHS for payment and tracking.
  7. FHS submits invoice portion to IDALS for payment. 
  8. FHS sends invoice to school for the match plus any other funds due. School pays food hub. 
  9. Food Hub pays the farmer.

D. Sample School wants to buy broccoli from a farmer that is not a Choose Iowa member. 

Unless the farmer is willing to become a Choose Iowa member, Choose Iowa dollars cannot be used for this purchase. The school may pay the farmer directly outside of this program.

Reporting Information

Participating organizations will need to provide information about the number of students served and any additional quotes or relevant information would also be appreciated so that IDALS can report to the Iowa Legislature on the program. 

Food hubs will report on producer and product purchased information.

Submitting Information

Submit requested reporting information to ChooseIowaGrant@IowaAgriculture.gov

Key Dates

Application Period for school districts: Closed

School districts notified of funding: Week of September 8, 2026

Local food purchasing timeline: September 8, 2026 - June 30, 2027

Questions?

Please contact ChooseIowaGrant@IowaAgriculture.gov

Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools FAQ

Questions?

Please reach out to Choose Iowa at chooseiowagrant@iowaagriculture.gov. We would be happy to work through any issues or details with you.