Michigan Farm to School News - December

Hi all,

Here are the latest Farm to School news bites:

 

News

 

Federal bill seeks more fresh produce in U.S. school meals with funding for salad bars, equipment upgrades, and farm to school grants for schools.

 

An article from The Packer, National Farm to School Network has exploded from simple beginnings, features Michigan’s Locavore Food Distributors.

 

In these tough economic times, more Michigan school children are eligible to participate in free and reduced-price school meals programs. Check out this searchable database from the Detroit News to see how local school districts have been affected.

 

West Michigan farmers, schools discuss getting local produce to student lunches  at last week’s Farm to School Workshop for growers, coordinated by Kendra Wills at Michigan State University Extension’s Kent County office.

 

Check out this YouTube video about the Michigan Junior Chef Competition held in September 2009 at MSU. Michigan Junior Chef was sponsored by the Michigan Nutrition Network, Michigan State University Extension and the C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at MSU. The video was created by two MSU students, Joe Vaillancourt and Elaine Bristol.

 

 

Events

 

Michigan Family Farms Conference

Saturday, January 17, 2010

Lakeview High School, Battle Creek, MI

Find the brochure and additional info at the MIFFS website.

 

Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

Saturday, January 30, 2010 with keynote speaker, Melissa Hemmelgarn, on Friday, January 29th

Grayling High School in Grayling, MI

Find more information on the conference website.

 

Michigan Good Food Summit

February 25, 2010 in Lansing, MI

See the attached Save the Date for more information.

 

Choices 2010, Collaboration: There's Room at the Table 

Wednesday, March 10 -11, 2010 in East Lansing, MI

Registration opens Jan. 11, 2010 

For more information, visit http://web7.anr.msu.edu/choices/Home.aspx.

 

Farm to School: Setting the Table for Wellness

Sponsored by the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI)

Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, MI

For conference info visit localdifference.org/farmtoschool

 

National Farm to Cafeteria Conference

May 17-19, 2010 in Detroit, MI

For more information, visit the Farm to Cafeteria Conference website

Deadline for online submission of workshop and/or poster proposals is January 15^th, 2010!

 

 

 

Happy Holidays!

 

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