Area schools purchase $63,000 in local food in northeast Iowa

ACSD leads northeast Iowa in total purchases

Northeast Iowa schools purchased over $63,000 in food from local farms during the 2015-16 school year, according to a survey by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Fourteen school districts contributed numbers to the survey, which is conducted annually on behalf of the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative.

Respondents included community school districts (CSD) in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Howard, Fayette and Winneshiek counties.

The Allamakee Community School District secured the honors for Most Local Food Purchases with $18,540. The Decorah Community School District edged out the Postville district for second place with $14,848 and $14,334 in food purchases, respectively, with the North Fayette Valley district purchasing $8,888 in local food.

These four school districts were also the top purchasers in the 2014-15 school year. The other districts in the survey each purchased $2,000 or less. Northeast Iowa schools have purchased over $238,000 from local farmers since 2008.

Because the region’s school districts range in size from 300-1,400 students, FFI also recognizes the schools who spend the most on local food per student per year. The top three schools in this category are Postville CSD at $21.27 per student, Allamakee CSD at $16.33 per student and North Fayette CSD at $11.18 per student. Decorah CSD and St. Joseph school in New Hampton spent over $9.00 per student. St. Joseph school also received the Most Improved Award for tripling its local food purchases from the previous year.

Overall, school purchases for the 2015-16 school year were down. Availability of products due to supply and weather were listed as challenges. Highlights included the local beef, pork and yogurt offered to students.

“These schools should be proud of their achievements,” said Teresa Wiemerslage, local food coordinator for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Not only have they sourced high quality products for local school children, but also because they have also invested in the farmers that support our towns and schools.”

When schools purchase local foods, their purchases trigger even more local economic activity, Wiemerslage offered. Several studies estimate that buying local food has a multiplier effect of 1.4-2.6 throughout the local economy; for every dollar spent locally, it is calculated that another 40 cents to $1.60 of economic activity is generated.