Organic food for kids sabotaged by US Government?

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Camp Creek Organic Produce owner, James Nisly is the Iowa’s organic farmer. Nisly discusses why transitions to organic farms is hard, how soil health translates to your nutrition, and how his efforts to provide healthy organic food for Iowa schools are being opposed by the US Government. 

Starting in 1998, Nisly was one of the first to go organic in Iowa. Only recently, has the world caught up with what new research is starting to show: organic food is more nutritious. Nisly discusses many topics in organic farming, one of which is providing healthy organic produce for kids through school meals. Toward the end of the interview he reveals the DOD is subsidizing non-organic and processed food for kids, making organic equivalents higher in cost by comparison. 

Soil Health as the Foundation of National Health

Brady’s questioning steered the conversation toward what makes organic food different, and Nisly didn’t hesitate to explain: it all starts with the soil. According to him, organic farming is about fostering microbial biodiversity and organic matter in the ground, which directly enhances the nutritional value of food. “Eight of the 10 most prevalent diseases in the United States have a direct connection with diet and nutrition,” Nisly points out. He asserts that the long-term cost of poor soil and nutrient-deficient produce far outweighs the up-front costs of organic farming. In his view, better soil not only produces healthier food but would drastically reduce national healthcare expenses.

The Cost of Conventional Farming and the Burden on Farmers

Despite growing support for organic food, Nisley stresses that transitioning is far from easy. Conventional farmers are caught between rising costs of synthetic inputs and limited pricing power on their crops. “The farmer doesn’t control the price that they receive for their products…and they don’t control the input costs,” he explains. Organic weed control, crop rotation, and green manure systems demand time, knowledge, and sacrifice of short-term profits. Many farmers resist the switch simply because it’s financially risky and operationally daunting. Yet Nisley remains hopeful, serving as a mentor in Iowa State University’s TOP program to help guide farmers through the transition.

US Department of Defense Undercutting Organic Food For Kids?

One of Nisly’s most impactful efforts lies in the school lunchroom. As a provider for the USDA’s Local Food for Schools (LFS) program, he delivers organic produce to 20–25 schools. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive. “We made the same thing with your cabbage and the students just ate it,” he recalls, quoting a school administrator’s feedback. However, his mission faces unexpected resistance – not from parents or students, but from government policy.

Schools often opt for cheaper, heavily subsidized processed foods, sometimes supplied through the Department of Defense. “As a local food provider… I’m up against decisions that are budget-driven and competing with really inexpensive ingredients coming from the Department of Defense,” he states.

It’s a surprising admission. HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy has lauded the benefits of organic meals on numerous occasions, suggesting the Trump White House is aligned with providing organic food to children. So why is the US Department of Defense seemingly undermining these efforts?

Empowering Change from the Ground Up

When asked about changing government policy, Nisly emphasizes that true change begins with public belief. “If we’re gonna change the government, we need to change the beliefs of the constituents who are electing the politicians,” he says. Rather than lobbying for change from the top down, Nisly invests in local mentorship, education, and getting high-quality food into the hands – and bellies – of the next generation.

A request for comment to the Department of Health and Human Services was not returned.