Schools, early care centers, and community organizations across Iowa are preparing to take part in the Great Apple Crunch on Wednesday, October 8, 2025—an annual celebration of healthy eating and local food held each October during National Farm to School Month.

The federal government shutdown has stalled vital work that supports Iowa farmers and communities. Conservation efforts led by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) — which help producers protect soil and water — are on hold. Nutrition programs such as the Farmers Market Nutrition Program for WIC and Seniors, which connect local farmers with families in need, are also at risk.

The Iowa Food System Coalition and partners reject the idea that public health, food security, and economic development are partisan issues. They are shared responsibilities—and this legislation shirks that responsibility entirely.

The Make America Healthy Again movement has gained popularity because it names a truth many Americans feel: our food system is broken. But instead of confronting root causes like corporate consolidation and disinvestment, this administration is cutting the very programs that make our communities stronger, healthier, and more self-reliant.

While the Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) appreciates the Legislature’s nod to local procurement, the final bill abandons the proven model from the Choose Iowa Purchasing Pilot Program that supplied both food banks and K-12 cafeterias, at a time when Iowa schools are losing federal support.

The Iowa Food System Coalition (IFSC) is deeply alarmed by the USDA’s abrupt cancellation of contracts supporting the Local Food for Schools (LFS), Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA), and Local Food for Child Care (LFCC) programs. These highly successful initiatives have played a critical role in ensuring schools, food banks, and childcare centers could purchase fresh, locally grown food from Iowa farmers.

In 2024, only 26 farmers, small businesses, and nonprofits were awarded funding—but Iowa is home to more than 86,000 farms.

Developing and supporting a local food system in Iowa should be a cornerstone of Iowa’s agriculture policy. To this end, IFSC has developed four legislative policy asks for the 2025 session.