(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Food System Coalition says the U-S-D-A has cancelled contracts worth more than 11-million dollars.
The money was to help the state’s food banks, schools and child care centers purchase local food from more than 300 Iowa farmers over three years. Coalition executive director Chris Schwartz says the U-S-D-A has not explained why it’s cancelling the contracts for a program that’s been “wildly successful” and a “national model.” He says the money from previous contracts is set to run out at the end of this month.
Schwartz says this action may send farms into foreclosure and cause people to lose their homes as “good faith partners” who want to help feed Iowa children are “going to be hanging…out to dry.”
