The Great Apple Crunch Takes Over Iowa & the Midwest this October

October is National Farm to School Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with the Great Apple Crunch! This fun and tasty event encourages people of all ages to take a big, juicy bite out of a locally grown apple—simultaneously—at noon on October 9th. Across the Midwest, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, schools, families, and organizations will come together to support local farmers and highlight the importance of healthy, fresh food in our communities. And if you can’t crunch right at noon, don’t worry—any time in October works! It’s a simple but impactful way to promote farm-to-school programs and healthy eating.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there! Dubuque County is adding its own flavor to the Great Apple Crunch with a special evening celebration. I had the chance to interview Brittany Demezier from the Iowa State University Dubuque County Extension and Outreach Program. She shared all the details on how our local office will be joining in on all the fun.

From 5:30 to 7:30 PM on October 9th, the local Extension office will host a free, family-friendly event packed with apple-themed activities. Attendees will get to experience making fresh apple cider using an old-fashioned cider press, whip up some apple sauce, and even try out caramel apple roll-ups! Kids can also dive into creative apple crafts, and everyone will have the chance to taste a variety of locally grown apples from orchards right here in Dubuque County.

Demezier explained that the goal of the Great Apple Crunch is to raise awareness about the diversity of local foods, especially the wide variety of apples grown in Iowa. With more than 2,000 types of apples grown worldwide, Dubuque will showcase some of the best from our local orchards. Whether you prefer tart or sweet, red or green, this event will have something for everyone, including that epic CRUNCH!

Check out my full interview with Brittany below:

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Beyond the fun, the Great Apple Crunch is also an opportunity to support Iowa farmers and connect with the local food system.

And if you’re interested in participating statewide, you can even register your own Crunch event online and join the effort to reach the goal of 1 million Crunches this year!

So, whether you're in Dubuque or elsewhere in Iowa (and even across the Midwest), make sure to grab an apple, take a bite, and join the celebration of local agriculture, healthy eating, and strong communities! So, get involved this October: register here to become a "cruncher" yourself!