The John Deere Foundation announced an $18.5 million investment in food banks, with $13 million designated for Iowa, which will allow three networks to expand their purchases from about 20 producers to nearly 120.
The John Deere Foundation announced on Tuesday an $18.5 million investment to support food banks across the United States and their connections with producers, $13 million of which will go to food banks and farmers in Iowa. The announcement was made at the Food Bank of Iowa headquarters in Des Moines.
Katie Sorrell, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association, called the partnership "a win-win-win investment" that will benefit food banks, families in need of food assistance and farmers who gain new local market opportunities.
Sorrell noted that food insecurity increased in every Iowa county over the past year. National data indicates that 1 in 8 Iowans, about 12.4%, is food insecure.
"Behind those numbers and statistics are our neighbors, seniors, coworkers, veterans, students and working families doing their best to make ends meet. And the need continues to grow," Sorrell said. "This investment will help bring fresh, nutritious, farm-grown food to the places where Iowans already turn for support."
The John Deere Foundation funds will support food bank operations and strengthen direct purchasing initiatives from producers in Iowa. Currently, Food Bank of Iowa, Riverbend Food Bank and Northeast Iowa Food Bank purchase from about 20 producers, and they estimate that the additional funding will allow them to expand to work directly with around 120 farmers.
"That's nearly 100 additional farmers participating across these three food bank networks, helping supply nutritious food to their communities through a model that has already proven successful," said Deanna Kovar, president of the worldwide agriculture and turf division at John Deere.
Emily Wynn, a farmer at Brewer Family Farms, said her family has been selling pork products, including chorizo, to Food Bank of Iowa since 2024, when the food bank received funding for local purchases through the state-led Choose Iowa program. In 2025, Choose Iowa allocated $200,000 in matching funds so that Iowa food banks could buy proteins, dairy, small grains, flour and honey from member farms. Farmers have called for more local food funding since a federal procurement program was cut in 2025.
"These are the types of opportunities that allow us, those who will one day own the farm, the possibility of keeping it and owning it until we're 70 or 80, and then being able to pass it on to the next generation," Wynn said. "Here in Iowa we grow the best protein, fruits and vegetables and crops in the country, and it is our duty to be able to spread that. That's why we love being able to partner and give back."
Annette Hacker, chief communications and strategy officer at Food Bank of Iowa, said the Des Moines-based food bank will receive $1 million from the John Deere Foundation each year for the next three years. Those resources will be divided into three areas: farm-to-plate programs, operating expenses and volunteer activities with John Deere staff to pack items such as snacks and hygiene products.
The John Deere Foundation announcement pledged $17 million, which includes the $13 million designated for Iowa, to Feeding America, and an additional $1.5 million to The Farmlink Project, a nonprofit food recovery and delivery organization.
"These investments will help recover surplus food, expand access to nutritious meals and create stronger connections between farmers and food banks," said Taryn Edgin, president of the John Deere Foundation.
Emily Shearer, vice president of food acquisition at Food Bank of Iowa, said the John Deere Foundation funding will more than double the local food purchases the food bank currently makes. Food Bank of Iowa expects to add 10 to 12 producers to its supplier list in each of the three years of the funding. Shearer explained that the food bank prioritizes items such as proteins and dairy because they are usually the most expensive in the shopping cart, although the funding also provides flexibility to buy other products, such as locally milled flour.
According to Food Bank of Iowa's 2026 fiscal year impact report, the organization distributed more than 28 million pounds of food to more than 700 food pantries and meal centers. Of that food, 30% was purchased by the food bank, 19% came from USDA, 36% was rescued food and the remaining 15% was donated. Food banks also saw increased demand in late 2025, when the government shutdown temporarily suspended federal nutrition benefits.
