Choose Iowa Program Aims to Combat Food Insecurity

(Des Moines) Iowa’s new Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program is helping local food banks connect with farmers to provide for those in need.

Launched in July, the program offers grants of up to $50,000 to support local food purchases. During a tour of the HACAP Food Reservoir, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig highlighted the importance of this initiative, as food banks face growing demand due to rising grocery costs and inflation. The program is designed to benefit both local farms and struggling families.

The Choose Iowa Food Purchasing Pilot Program, launched in 2024, aims to alleviate food insecurity in Iowa by connecting Iowa food banks with Choose Iowa members to provide food to those in need.

The program allocated $225,000 to assist food banks, with participating food banks matching the state’s investment one-to-one.