Iowa is partnering with six other states this year and joining the Great Apple Crunch to help celebrate local foods and highlight National Farm to School Month. The event celebrates healthy kids, locally grown apples and strong community partnerships with local Iowa farmers.
The project is part of an Iowa Department of Education Farm to School grant in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and Iowa State Extension and Outreach.
Anyone may register to participate in the Crunch including schools, individuals, families, early care and education sites, hospitals, colleges and universities, farms, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, local businesses, or other social groups. Register your Crunch event to participate at noon on Oct.13, then buy, serve and collectively crunch into locally grown apples. Individual events can also be scheduled for any time in October. The goal is to have 1.2 million crunches across the Midwest region.
The recipe is easy – just apples! Check out these resources for local, Iowa apple orchards and Iowa food hubs to purchase apples and be part of the Great Apple Crunch count.