The Iowa Food Bank Association interviewed both candidates for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture to better understand their priorities and perspectives on hunger, agriculture, and food access across the state. Click the link below to read Mike Naig's and Chris Jones' full responses to the following questions:
- If elected, how would you work to bolster and support the work of Iowa food banks?
- Regarding nutrition programs, what areas of opportunity do you see for you to lean in to support enhanced access to food?
- What do you see as your main priorities as Secretary of Agriculture? And how do Iowa food banks fit into those priorities?
- We've seen strong demand for Iowa-grown food through the Choose Iowa program, both from food banks and schools. Would you support significantly increasing funding for Choose Iowa, particularly the Farms to Food Banks program? If so, how will you advocate for that funding in the next state budget?
- The federal government canceled programs like the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program and Local Food for Schools in 2025. From your perspective, what should the next Farm Bill do to restore and make permanent federal support for local food purchasing?
- Food banks want to be partners with Iowa agriculture, not just recipients of food. What should food banks, farmers, schools, and policymakers be doing together to build a stronger food system that gets more Iowa-grown food to Iowa families?
- What can the Department of Agriculture do to help Iowa's small and local meat processors expand their customer base and get more Iowa-produced food into the marketplace? What role could the department play in modernizing regulations around custom slaughter facilities so meat could be sold to additional partners across the state?