Amana, Iowa — A USDA-funded program aims to get local food to hungry people while securing good prices for local producers.
The Iowa Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program comes from the American Rescue Plan. For Iowans, it means two-point-seven million dollars invested in the local food system. Giselle Bruskewitz is a program director for Iowa Valley Resource Conservation and Development, which is implementing the program.
Bruskewitz says the program is particularly focused on helping farmers from disadvantaged backgrounds and is working to solve key issues.
Iowa Valley will develop 17 distribution partners across the state. They range from food hubs and food banks to the Meskwaki Nation. As they court additional USDA dollars, she hopes local growers get more attention as a solution to hunger.
