TOLEDO – The dedicated efforts of local volunteers have paid off in a big way for Tama County residents this year. Grow A Row for Tama County, a project spearheaded by the Tama County Master Gardeners, has donated over 2,100 lb. of fresh, locally-grown produce to area food pantries during the 2025 growing season.

This donation is a significant increase over prior years and will provide an estimated 6,300 servings of fresh food for local families (based on the standard of three servings per pound of produce).

A Community-Wide Effort

The impressive haul was made possible through the collaboration of a dedicated group of gardeners across the county. Contributions came from:

-The donation garden at the Tama County Extension office

-Five (5) Tama County Master Gardeners

-Five (5) additional Tama County residents who generously contributed from their home gardens

The growing season was long and productive, with donations starting on June 30 and continuing until Nov. 3. Volunteers managed to grow and distribute 18 different fruits and vegetables.

Bumper Crop of Fruit and Focus on Education

A notable first for the project this year was a significant donation of fresh tree fruit, including apples, pears, and peaches – items that had not been available in the past. Experts have coined 2025 as a “mast” year, which is likely responsible for the bumper crop of these seed-bearing fruits.

Tama County Extension Executive Director Cheryl Bruene highlighted the importance of not just quantity, but education.

“Produce is of no use to those who are not familiar with the food unless they are given some information on cooking it,” Bruene said. “Many foods, such as zucchini, are not familiar to Tama County residents who did not grow up eating it. The recipes we provide teach them how to cook and use it “.

All donated produce is delivered to the Extension office, where it is weighed and bagged with crucial cooking and storage information before being delivered to the South Tama Food Pantry for distribution. When the harvest exceeds the needs of a single location, the food is shared with other local distribution points.

Growth of a Local Initiative

Grow A Row for Tama County began in 2020 by the Tama County Master Gardeners, producing just 80 pounds of produce from the Extension Office garden in its inaugural year. In 2021, the project expanded to invite contributions from community members, a move that has driven its substantial growth. The project also distributes 150 tomato plants each spring through four food pantries throughout Tama County and MICA/Headstart.

This dedicated group of home gardeners continues to work hard, ensuring that more fresh, healthy food is available to the residents of Tama County.

For information on this project or the Master Gardener Program, contact Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Tama County, at 641-484-2703 or stop by the office at 203 W. High St. in Toledo.