Goals and strategies.

(1) The farm-to-school program shall seek to link elementary and secondary public and nonpublic schools in this state with Iowa farms to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed food for inclusion in school meals and snacks, encourage children to develop healthy eating habits, and provide Iowa farmers access to consumer markets.

(2) The farm-to-school program may include activities that provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening and composting programs.

(3) The department of agriculture and land stewardship and the department of education shall seek to establish partnerships with public agencies and nonprofit organizations to implement a structure to facilitate communication between farmers and schools.

(4) The department of agriculture and land stewardship and the department of education shall actively seek financial or in-kind contributions from organizations or persons to support the program.

2007 Acts, ch 215, §95; 2009 Acts, ch 41, §76; 2013 Acts, ch 129, §62, 63