Northeast Iowa selected as Food Corps site

Northeast Iowa will be a host site in 2011 for a new national AmeriCorps school garden and farm to school service program called "FoodCorps."  

The Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa and the Environmental Studies Department at Luther College will be partners with the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative in implementing the program.

FoodCorps will serve vulnerable children, improving access to healthy, affordable food, while training young leaders for careers in food and agriculture.  In addition, the program will provide expanded markets for local farmers.  Plans call for the Iowa FoodCorps program to place at least six AmeriCorps members in rural and urban school districts in Iowa during the 2011-2012 school year.

Luther College will host the first group of FoodCorps members in Iowa.