40 Iowa Schools Participate in “A Is For Apple” Initiative

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey thanked the 40 schools in 17 communities across the state that participated in the Iowa Farm to School’s “A is For Apple” initiative this fall.

The schools received funds to buy locally grown apples and classroom supplies to teach students about the value of eating well and supporting local farmers.

Northey will be visiting Brubaker Elementary School in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday November 9th at 11 a.m. to participate in events they are hosting as part of the “A is for Apple” initiative. The winning application was submitted by Brandi Van Horn, a 2nd grade teacher at Brubaker Elementary. The event will include a school-wide apple sampling with apples provided by Iowa Choice Harvest, a farmer-owned Iowa company from Marshalltown.

“Exposing students to the fresh, nutritious and delicious foods we grow here in Iowa can help create positive lifelong eating habits. I appreciate the hard work by the teachers across the state to incorporate locally grown food into their classroom,” Northey said. “I’m excited to be able to join the students at Brubaker Elementary in Des Moines for their apple sampling event and see how students enjoy the Iowa grown apples that will be available.”

The “A is for Apple” initiative provided grants to 40 classrooms to support the purchase of fresh, locally grown apples from an orchard in their area while they are in season.

A portion of the funds could also be used to purchase frozen apples that can be eaten anytime during the year. Iowa Choice Harvest is a 100% Iowa-owned company that freezes and packages 100% fresh, Iowa-grown products without the use of added sodium, sugars, additives, or preservatives. They offer 21 different fall varieties of apples, mostly heirloom varieties, in each package of apple slices.

Schools also received classroom supplies such as books, cookbooks or apple corers.

The schools that participated in the initiative are located in Dayton, Marion, Readlyn, New Hampton, Oxford, Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Cedar Rapids, Guthrie Center, Iowa City, West Branch, Waukon, Postville, Ossian, Decorah, Waverly and Miles.

In addition to their local events, 34 schools signed up to be a part of the Midwest Great Apple Crunch. Photos and a video of these celebrations can be found on the Iowa Farm to School Facebook page at www.facebook.com/IowaFarmtoSchool
To learn more about the Iowa Farm to School program and other initiatives, visit our website: http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/AgDiversification/farmToSchoolProgram.asp

Iowa Dept of Ag