Students from many Iowa schools were supposed to return to class from Spring Break today, but the coronavirus pandemic now means that many thousands of them will only be stopping by school for meals. Connie Dobbels , Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services in the Davenport School District, says … [Read more...]
Iowans asked to help restaurants by calling in for take out food
Many Iowans are making the switch from dining out to getting carry out, following Tuesday's order from the governor that temporarily closes all restaurants statewide, except for pick-up, drive-through or delivery. Jessica Dunker, president and CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association, is appealing … [Read more...]
Association leader worried many restaurants won’t survive coronavirus shut down
The head of the Iowa Restaurant Association says today's proclamation by the governor could force the permanent closure of hundreds of Iowa eateries and put 80,000 Iowans out of work. Association President and CEO Jessica Dunker says she understands that this Public Health Disaster Emergency was … [Read more...]
Iowa Farmers Union wants a rewrite of SNAP rules
Iowa is not among the 15 states that have joined the lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s new rules putting further restrictions on SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman says his group supports the litigation. "Many, many, many … [Read more...]
HyVee to turn former Iowa Shopko buildings into Dollar Fresh stores
The HyVee grocery story chain plans to buy six former Shopko locations in Iowa and will reopen them as Dollar Fresh stores. HyVee says it will purchase the former Shopko buildings in Hampton, Cresco, Oelwein, Waukon, Dyersville and Vinton. Those locations will be renovated and reopened as Dollar … [Read more...]
DMACC Culinary Institute celebrates 35th exchange program with France
A group of French chefs are visiting the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) campus as part of the anniversary celebration of an exchange program with the school's culinary program. DMACC French professor Maura Nelson says it also started when the state of Iowa started a sister relationship … [Read more...]
Large volunteer food packing effort underway on UNI campus
More than 1,500 volunteers are part of a project today in the UNI-Dome on the University of Northern Iowa campus to assemble food packages for needy children. Northeast Iowa Food Bank Executive Director Barb Prather says the goal is to pack 48,000 bags of food, a goal that will take a large … [Read more...]
Food Bank of Iowa distributed a record amount in 2019
The Food Bank of Iowa reports it acquired and delivered more than 17 million pounds of food in 2019. Spokesman Dylan Lampe says the total gives them a mixed feeling. "It was a 30 percent increase from the highest total we had had previously. We were pretty excited to report those numbers -- but … [Read more...]
Central Iowa food pantry sees busiest month in November
A food pantry in central Iowa that serves the most people in the state saw its busiest month in November. Bidwell Riversides Food Pantry spokesperson, Alison Hanner, says 5,891 people got food at their Des Moines location. She says there's a variety of things that put people in need. "The rising … [Read more...]
Number of turkey producers in Iowa has increased
The Executive Director of the Iowa Turkey Federation, Gretta Irwin, says the state's seen an increase in turkey producers in recent years. Iowa now has about 130 turkey farms with the majority of them comprised of second- and third-generation turkey farmers. "We have been in the top ten for many … [Read more...]