Farmers Feel Impact of Eliminated Local Food Programs

The USDA is ending two local food programs this month, which is a financial blow to some eastern Iowa farmers. 

The programs helped connect regional food producers with food banks and schools statewide. Funding for the Local Food Purchase Assistance and Local Food for Schools programs was approved under the Biden administration, but is now being cut off. Emmaly (Emily) Renshaw is with Iowa Valley RC&D, a nonprofit that supports food supply chains across Iowa.

Renshaw says the total revenue for producers in both programs was 360-thousand dollars. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said they were COVID-era programs that needed to be eliminated. Emma Johnson is an owner of Buffalo Ridge Orchard in Central City.

With the programs being discontinued, Johnson says her orchard has roughly 50-thousand pounds of apples that she needs to find a new way to sell.

story and photo courtesy of Radio Iowa