From Local Farms to CCA Lunch Trays: Celebrating Local Foods Day

What does Iowa agriculture look like on a school lunch tray? At Clear Creek Amana, students got to taste it firsthand on Local Food Day.

Students at Clear Creek Amana enjoyed a special menu featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients while learning more about the connection between Iowa farmers, food producers and the meals served in their school cafeterias.

At lunch, students enjoyed fresh-cut carrot sticks, roasted root vegetables and crisp apple slices—all sourced from local farmers.

The local foods were made possible through CCA’s partnership with Field to Family Food Hub, which works to connect schools with farmers and producers across the region. Michelle with Field to Family has developed a strong partnership with CCA Nutrition Director Missy Ortman and the district’s nutrition team, helping bring more locally grown foods to students.

“Connecting our students with local food is a great way to show them where their food comes from while providing fresh, nutritious options in our schools,” Ortman said.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined school nutrition staff to serve lunch, visit with students and highlight the importance of connecting Iowa farmers and food producers with school cafeterias. Local Food Day is an opportunity to celebrate these connections and encourage more schools to choose local whenever they can.

For students, Local Foods Day was more than a special menu—it was an opportunity to experience a little bit of Iowa agriculture right at their lunch table.

CCA was also recently selected as one of 125 Iowa schools to receive funding through the new Choose Iowa Local Food for Schools Program, which will help expand opportunities to purchase and serve locally grown foods to students.

From the farmers who grow the food to the people who prepare and serve it, Local Foods Day was a chance to celebrate the many connections that help bring fresh Iowa food to CCA students.