Many Iowa pork producers are facing significant troubles due to the pandemic, as are many of Iowa's restaurants, and a new promotion aims to help both groups. Kelsey Sutter, the spokeswoman for the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says they're launching what's being called the Iowa Pork Crawl … [Read more...]
Volunteers needed to rescue surplus vegetables
A report finds up to 10% of food grown in Iowa is left in the field because it's not visually attractive or can't be sold, while more than 300,000 Iowans can't cover their basic food needs. Those facts are prompting an effort to find volunteers to glean surplus vegetables from Iowa's fields to … [Read more...]
April cold snap keeps sweet corn from being ready by July 4th
A small stretch of cold weather is going to keep sweet corn from being available by the Fourth of July this year for one grower who often has the first corn on the market. Mike Penick grows corn near Carlisle and has this assessment of how the crop is doing. "Well, that's an open-ended question … [Read more...]
Ames and Sioux City schools seeing big demand for summer meals
Summer starts Saturday but schools across Iowa are already serving summer meals to students. The Ames Community School District is busing families without access to transportation to its three meal sites to pick up food. Superintendent Jenny Risner says that’s eliminated barriers. The school … [Read more...]
Casey’s finds during pandemic restrictions customers would rather help themselves
The president of the Casey's convenience store chain based in Ankeny says they learned during restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 that customers like to help themselves. Casey's president, Darren Rebelez, says people like to pick out their own slice of pizza or other food items. "When we made … [Read more...]
Ohio State professor winner of 2020 World Food Prize
The Iowa-based World Food Prize Foundation has announced its 2020 laureate, a man who has dedicated his career to understanding the critical role of preserving and nurturing the soil. Rattan Lal grew up in India, worked in Nigeria, and is a longtime professor at Ohio State University. World Food … [Read more...]
Breda woman creates website for direct buying from farmers
More Iowans are buying food directly from farmers during the pandemic, with Facebook groups and other social media connecting producers and customers. Jenna Anthofer of Breda started the group IA Farm 2 Table on Facebook May 10th and now has more than two-thousand people signed on from Iowa and … [Read more...]
Food Banks get help in distribution during increased pandemic need
The pandemic has changed some pathways of getting food to hungry Iowans, but tons are still being donated and distributed. West Des Moines-based Hy-Vee often makes donations to food banks, yet many suppliers have approached the grocery chain for help distributing the surplus. Hy-Vee’s Christina … [Read more...]
Small Iowa lockers now able to sell meat across state lines
The Iowa Department of Agriculture says an agreement that is designed to help small-size meat processing facilities is moving ahead. Iowa Ag Secretary, Mike Naig, says it involved lockers with fewer than 25 employees. "We've got a new cooperative interstate shipment program that will allow them … [Read more...]
Mary Jo’s Hobo House in Britt fights back from coronavirus shut down
An iconic breakfast and lunch restaurant in northern Iowa is starting to hit its stride again. Earlier this month, Mary Jo's Hobo House in Britt reopened its dining room under specific guidelines set down by the state. Owner Mary Jo Hughes says this has been a tough spring. "I'm not going to lie. … [Read more...]