Johnson County employees will participate in the Great Apple Crunch, a nationwide event celebrating local food purchasing. Employees will gather in the Johnson County Administration Building lobby from 11:30 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Oct. 9, to crunch into local apples from Buffalo Ridge Orchard in Central City, Iowa.  

The Great Apple Crunch promotes farm-to-institution sales, increases demand for regionally and locally grown produce, and supports local apple growers. For growers who provide the apples, the event marks the busiest point in the season and provides an opportunity for farm-to-institution sales. “It means a lot when an individual purchases locally, but that impact is amplified when a workplace does it,” says Maddie McCabe, Local Food Assistant for Johnson County.

This employee event is hosted by the Johnson County Wellness Committee, which aims to invest in and foster a workplace culture that supports a healthy lifestyle 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,” says 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.