2017 ASHS Annual Conference

In 2014, Iowa food pantries reported to extension specialists that the number one requested food item from clients was fresh produce. In 2015, the U.S. Dept. Agr. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program formed an alliance to combat food insecurity in Iowa by growing and donating fresh produce to food pantries. The objectives of the partnership not only were to increase access of fresh produce moving into local food pantry systems, but also to educate families experiencing poverty about home gardening techniques. Master gardeners were trained on food safety and citizen science techniques via webinar and face-to-face sessions prior to garden planting and harvest. SNAP-Ed funded 26 mini-grant projects organized and managed by local Iowa Master Gardener groups as well as seven home demonstration gardens located at Iowa State University research farms across Iowa. Applications from 65 projects for up to $1000 each were submitted by 1 March 2016. Four review groups each rated 16-17 applications to determine which applications were strongest based on having an active master gardener listed as a team member, indicating a clearly defined evaluation strategy, having funds leveraged by other partnerships, and having a focus on impacting food pantry recipients. More than 73,000 pounds of fresh produce were donated to local food pantries in 2016 from these funded projects. After the first growing season, the following areas of the partnership were identified that could be better focused to increase the amount of produce going into the Iowa food system: 1) increase the number of collaborators involved in the mini grants, 2) increase the amount of funds allotted for each mini grant, 3) allow multiple counties to apply for a mini grant together, and 4) focus the home demonstration gardens on space-saving techniques. This successful Iowa partnership has become a model for surrounding states in creating their own partnerships between SNAP-Ed and the Master Gardener program.