Iowa Valley RC&D launches new fundraiser to support farm-to-school food system

IOWA CITY — A new fundraising dinner sets the table next month to support food access for children who need it most.

Plated with Purpose, a farm-to-table dinner at The Webster, will celebrate National Farm to School Month with a four-course plated dinner complete with wine pairings. All courses will feature locally sourced ingredients prepared by Chef Sam Gelman and his team.

Proceeds from the Oct. 15 event will benefit Iowa Valley RC&D’s Value Chain Development Initiative, which strengthens local food systems by connecting farmers, food hubs, schools and institutions.

“Farm to School is about more than healthy meals — it’s about equity, community resilience and keeping local farms viable,” said Giselle Bruskewitz, senior program director at Iowa Valley RC&D. “Plated with Purpose is one way to sustain that work and spark conversation about the future of food in Iowa’s schools.”

Organizers hope the event highlights, with urgency, how policy directly affects what children can eat at school. This takes on new importance after the recent cancellation of the federal Local Food for Schools program, which could create major problems to sustaining progress made by Farm to School initiatives in Iowa over the last 10 years.

As funding landscapes shift, Iowa Valley RC&D is working with its partners to ensure schools and farmers remain connected.

The dinner will feature products from local farms and producers, including:

Tickets, available at iowavalleyrcd.org, cost $250 per person. Tickets are limited to 58 people.

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.

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