DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Tuesday) announced that the Iowa Farm to School Local Purchase Report is now available. The Iowa report is the first in the nation to track monthly procurement of locally-grown produce (within Iowa and a 30 mile radius surrounding our state) from school food service directors.

Northey says “This report is designed to help farmers interested in supplying schools know what types of produce schools want and the price that is being paid for it. The consistent and reliable information included in the report is extremely valuable in helping farmers build a business that includes marketing directly to schools. In addition, it may help schools not yet purchasing local produce learn what other schools are buying as they consider starting to add local foods to their menu.”

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is partnering with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) on these monthly reports. School food service directors are asked to complete a report on local produce procurement monthly. As with all AMS reports, the information is confidential and only products and price ranges are shared.

The monthly report can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website at www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/lsmiafts.pdf.