Hydroponic crops enhance healthier options at Iowa State Fair

WesleyLife Meals on Wheels is enjoying a fresh connection to one of Iowa’s biggest traditions this year.

At the Iowa State Fair, running through Aug. 23 in Des Moines, produce from the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm at the WesleyLife Meals on Wheels campus is making its way onto the menus of two food vendors, giving fairgoers a taste of food uniquely grown just a few miles away.

The 3,000-square-foot indoor farm, located near Drake University in Des Moines, is providing fresh basil and pesto for The Salad Bowl, a healthy-alternative concession stand on the west balcony of the Agriculture Building.

The farm also is supplying fresh  greens to chef Andrea Love (pictured above right), owner and operator of Dinner Delights, for a meal she is preparing as part of the Farm to Fair — America’s Picnic event on the fairgrounds.

For Shannon Draayer (above left with Andrea), executive director of community nutrition for WesleyLife, says fair connection began with a conversation.

“Connie Boesen, Des Moines' mayor and the owner of The Salad Bowl, attended our Meals on Wheels 20th anniversary event and tried the pesto caprese skewers we served,” Shannon says.

“We started talking about using basil from our hydroponic farm at one of her stands at the fair. That turned into an opportunity to provide both fresh basil and pesto prepared by our kitchens for her caprese skewers shown in the pictures above and below, and we couldn't be happier to be involved."

Growing food differently

The Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm is the only hydroponic farm associated with a Meals on Wheels operation in the United States. Inside the farm, leafy greens, herbs and edible flowers grow without soil in a carefully controlled environment.

Hydroponic farming allows water to be continually recycled through a growing system. When compared with traditional growing operations, hydroponic systems use significantly less water. Also, because plants can be grown close together and vertically, hydroponics also makes efficient use of space, providing an advantage for an urban farm like WesleyLife’s.

In addition, the controlled indoor environment allows the farm to produce food throughout the year, regardless of Iowa’s changing seasons.

Improving nutrition, deliciously 

The crops have an important purpose close to home. Produce from the farm helps supplement meals prepared for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels recipients and also reaches the broader community through community-supported agriculture and local retail partners.

“It’s meaningful for us, as an Iowa-based organization for nearly 80 years, to be part of the Iowa State Fair,”Amanda Kanehl, the farm's head grower, says. "WesleyLife is a health and well-being organization, so we're committed to growing food that tastes great and adds fresh, nutritious ingredients to the meals we deliver to older adults and military veterans.

"Through opportunities like this, even more people can experience what’s being grown healthfully right here in Des Moines. ”

A healthy option at the fair

In a sea of fried delicacies, The Salad Bowl caught the attention of fairgoer Scott Byrd of Ankeny as he looked for lunch options Thursday. Scott, who prioritizes clean eating, noticed a sign highlighting the hydroponic farm’s involvement with the stand.

“As a vegan, I like the idea of hydroponic crops because they don’t rely on animal-based fertilizers,” Scott says. "They also use fewer pesticides and less land, so it feels like a natural fit with the way I try to make choices that have less impact on animals and the environment. It's good to see these kinds of options at the fair."

A natural connection

For WesleyLife Meals on Wheels, bringing fresh food to the fair is an extension of work happening every day across Central Iowa. The program addresses both food insecurity and social isolation by delivering nutritious meals and personal connection to older adults and military veterans.

Last year, Meals on Wheels drivers and volunteers delivered more than 416,000 meals to 5,100 people, including more than 200 military veterans. Those deliveries provide more than food; drivers and volunteers also conduct well-being checks with the people they serve, creating personal connections that, on average, help save seven lives each year.

"We're grateful for options like our State Fair connections that help us showcase the importance of good nutrition in leading a healthier, and maybe even longer, life," Shannon says. "We're honored to be part of a great tradition in a way that makes an impact." 

Learn more about WesleyLife Meals on Wheels and the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm, or help support the work with a donation!