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Monday, June 8, 2009

Michigan Farm to School News

Hi all,

Here are the latest farm to school news bites:

 

NEWS

 

We have added a Farm to School Program Directory to the Michigan Farm to School website! If you are a school food service director or otherwise involved in an on-going farm to school program in Michigan, which includes purchasing Michigan-grown foods for school meals programs, fundraisers, and/or school events, please register your program here. Once approved, your entry will be added to the statewide Program Directory on the website. Program registration entries will also be merged with “Existing Program” information on the Michigan profile page of the National Farm to School organization’s webpage in order to update it. We hope the directory will help us get a better sense of the many farm to school programs throughout the state and improve communication among farm to school practitioners through our statewide network. Pass it on - encourage to those you know involved in farm to school programs to register to be part of the statewide directory! (I plan to send another notice about this when school starts up again in September as well.)

 

Check out the new Spring Vegetable Fact Sheets recently released by the New Hampshire Farm to School Program. Individuals fact sheets for asparagus, rhubarb, spinach, and lettuce/salad greens include tips for storage and prep, nutrition info, fun facts, and recipes.

 

“Local school district gets lunch makeover”

Gladwin Community Schools’ new farm to school program was featured in this news story from WJRT-TV (ABC News 12) in Mid-Michigan. Additionally, presentations and materials from Gladwin County’s “Farms Selling to Schools” Program are now available on the Michigan Farm to School website. The agenda included a farm to school overview, schools’ expectations of vendors, food safety and sanitation, and farm business planning and organization.

 

“Students nosh on fresh foods in new class”

Check out this story and short video from the Battle Creek Enquirer about students in Homer Schools’ AgriScience program are learning about eating healthy foods and growing their own food through a project funded by USDA SNAP-Ed funding through the Michigan Nutrition Network, Michigan State University Extension.

 

“The New Meal”

This feature article and video from the Baltimore City Paper explains how Tony Geraci, Food Service Director of Baltimore Public Schools, colleagues, and friends are transforming school food.

 

 

EVENTS

 

High Tunnel Tour of the MSU high tunnel research facility and discussion of vegetable, berry, and sweet cherry trials with Ron Goldy, Greg Lang, and Eric Hanson

June 17th, 2009 from 6:30-8 pm

Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center

1791 Hillandale Rd

Benton Harbor, MI

Call 269-944-1477 for directions or more information

 

Food System Economic Partnership Conference

Thursday, June 18th , 2009

Lenawee County Vocational Tech Center

Adrian, MI

www.fsepconference.org

 

FoodMed: Third International Conference on Healthy Food in Healthcare

June 30th-July 1st, 2009

MGM Grand Hotel

Detroit, MI

www.foodmed.org

 

Select Michigan Farmers Market on the Capitol Lawn

Thursday, July 23rd from 10 am – 3 pm

Vendor applications are due this Friday, June 12th - Information for vendors and applications are available at the MDA Select Michigan website

 

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

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