Johnson County employees will join a nationwide celebration of local food sourcing on Wednesday, Oct. 9, during the annual “Great Apple Crunch.” The event, held from 11:30 a.m. to noon in the lobby of the Johnson County Administration Building, will feature locally grown apples from Buffalo Ridge Orchard in Central City, Iowa.
The Great Apple Crunch is designed to highlight farm-to-institution partnerships, boosting the demand for regionally sourced produce while supporting local apple growers. For growers like those at Buffalo Ridge Orchard, the event coincides with the peak of apple season and presents an opportunity to expand sales to institutional buyers.
“It means a lot when an individual purchases locally, but that impact is amplified when a workplace does it,” said Maddie McCabe, local food assistant for Johnson County
The Johnson County Wellness Committee is organizing the event, which aligns with the committee’s broader mission of fostering a workplace culture that promotes healthy lifestyles for employees, their families, and the community.
“I’m really excited that we’re able to support local foods by bringing locally sourced apples to our employees,” said Giselle Coreas, health planner at Johnson County Public Health and chair of the Johnson County Wellness Committee.
More information about the Great Apple Crunch is available at https://www.iowafarmtoschoolearlycare.org/great-apple-crunch.
