La Porte City Elementary students enjoy a lunch tray containing a variety of local foods on Wednesday, Sept. 28 during Iowa Local Food Day. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARA GLENN

Union’s breakfast and lunch menus featured some special items last week in honor of all things local and fresh.

The district celebrated the annual Iowa Local Food Day on Wednesday, Sept. 28 by partnering with seven local farms including the district’s own Ag Science/FFA Garden.

The Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship initiated Iowa Local Food Day in 2018 as an extension of the state’s Farm to School food program in order to both celebrate Iowa-grown food and serve as a kickoff to National Farm to School Month which takes place in October.

Iowa passed legislation in 2007 establishing the Farm to School program. By encouraging and promoting the purchase of locally produced food in Iowa’s public and non-public schools/early care centers, the program seeks to strengthen the farm economy while at the same time improving child nutrition and health.

Union celebrated Iowa Local Food Day this year by serving loose beef sandwiches in Dysart and grilled hamburgers in La Porte City, both made with beef from Anton Farms; fresh apples from Beck Orchards based in Buckingham and from the Ag Science/FFA program; mashed potatoes, squash, and zucchini using produce from the Ag Science/FFA Garden in Dysart; yogurt and cucumbers from Field to Family Food Hub.

Farmer Mark Anton (right) of Anton Farms pictured working the grill alongside Dysart Mayor Tim Glenn on Wednesday, Sept. 28 during Iowa Local Food Day at Union Schools. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK ANTON

“The menu was very well received by the students,” Union Schools Food Service Director Cara Glenn said. “This day allows opportunities [for] students to try foods that they may have never had before. … Working with local farmers and co-ops as well as the Ag Science Department at Union has opened a lot of doors for [the nutrition program].”

All seven of the farms Union partnered with for the menu are located within 75 miles of the district including Anton Farms (La Porte City), Beck Orchards (Buckingham), Country View Dairy (Hawkeye), Field to Family Food Hub (Iowa City), Hanson’s Hollow (La Porte City), Yellow Table Farm (Tripoli), and the district’s own Ag Science/FFA Garden located in Dysart.

“Coordinating a Local Food Day was fun!” Glenn continued. “Staff and students as well as all of the local farmers and businesses we utilized were very helpful in making this day a success.”

Farmer Mark Anton of Anton Farms grills his own beef for Union’s lunch hamburgers on Wednesday, Sept. 28 during Iowa Local Food Day. Dysart Mayor Tim Glenn (obscured) works beside Anton. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARA GLENN

Kitchen staff at Union High School smile while celebrating Iowa Local Food Day on Wednesday, Sept. 28. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARA GLENN

Union High School students enjoy a lunch tray containing a variety of local foods on Wednesday, Sept. 28 during Iowa Local Food Day in La Porte City. PHOTO COURTESY OF CARA GLENN