More Vinton-Shellsburg CSD meals will be featuring Iowa foods thanks to a grant from the Iowa Local Food for Schools grant (LFS). 

The School District has been awarded $2000 to procure local foods that are healthy, nutritious and unique to their geographic area. 

In addition to increasing local food consumption, funds also build and expand economic opportunity for local, socially disadvantaged producers and small businesses. Through this program, producers can sell to K-12 schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. School awards are facilitated by the local food hubs. 

Karen Ackman V-S District Food Service Director says that through the LFS program their district will “be able to educate students on products produced locally, support local gardens and offer more choices on our fruit and vegetable bars. ‘’Kiwi Berries coming real soon!”

Iowa Local Food for Schools was launched in October 2022 by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service with funding from USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation. LFS is a cooperative agreement with the USDA and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 

To learn more about the program and how to support it, visit https://www.iowafarmtoschoolearlycare.org/lfs. The LFS program is building new partnerships and infrastructure across the state to continue serving K-12 schools with high-quality local food.