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Thursday, October 29, 2009

Farm to School News

Greetings all,

Here are the latest Farm to School news bites:

NEWS

 “New School Meals Nutrition Requirements Recommended  School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children, a new report by the Institute of Medicine, recommends new nutrient targets and standards for menu planning that would bring school meals in line with the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Dietary Reference Intakes to replace the outdated 1995 nutrition standards.

 

Kids Eat Few Fruits, Veggies Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published findings that fewer than 10% of U.S. high school students are eating the combined recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables.

As the current Child Nutrition Act is up for reauthorization next year, the One Tray coalition is aiming to increase the number of Farm to School programs by demanding mandatory federal funding through this reauthorization.

Food Fit for Kids As Americans are further removed from the sources of their food, the importance of Farm to School is increasing dramatically as children in this generation are having to face more cases of obesity and diabetes from poor food choices. Check out this article from Michigan Country Lines, which features Michigan Farm to School!

 “Fixing Lunch See how Tony Geraci, the food-service director for Baltimore Public Schools, and other school food-service directors around the nation are managing to get healthier and local choices into school cafeterias.

American Meat Institute Discusses Meatless Mondays” Listen to this related radio about Baltimore Public Schools and Baltimore Public School officials' decision to move to "Meatless Mondays”.

Farm To School: A Conversation with Marion Kalb Marion Kalb, Program Director of the Farm to School program, part of the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC), talks about the benefits to school kids, farmers, and rural communities when fresh, and local food is brought into the school lunch program for K-12 kids. Check out the video!

“Vermont FEED receives $476,000 from the Centers for Disease Control to Advance Farm to School programs encouraging Healthy Food Choices” Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) was instrumental in securing this funding that comes after a recent U.S. government study released showing that most Americans don't eat the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.

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RESOURCES

The University of California, Berkeley has created a Nutrition Education in School Food Service Tool Kit that aims to take advantage of the potential of school food service settings to positively influence children’s eating – both at school and at home. Check it out! 

Smart by Nature: Schooling for Sustainability by Michael K. Stone from the Center for Ecoliteracy portrays the growing sustainability movement in K-12 education, showcasing inspiring stories of public, independent, and charter schools across the country. Click here to learn more about the book!

http://www.kidsgardening.com/ offers many great tools at for teachers and parents regarding youth gardening.  The Classroom Exchange portion of the website is a place where people can go and post information about what their school is doing but also ask for help.

Begin Farming Ohio Website Launched to Assist Beginning Farmers For the first time Ohio's new and beginning farmers have an entire website dedicated to their unique information needs and designed to make it easier for them to find the services and resources they seek.

 

EVENTS

2009 Michigan Community and School Gardener Networking Meeting

When: Saturday, November 7th, 2009 from 10 am to 5 pm

Location: Eastern Michigan University's College of Business in Ypsilanti, MI (300 W. Michigan Ave, Gary Owen Building, Ypsilanti, MI 48197)

What: CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU, Greening of Detroit, Growing Hope, Garden Project, and Ruth Mott Foundation-Applewood invite you to discuss the innovative community gardening network currently taking place around Michigan and Northern Ohio and facilitate the development of communication and resource networks between groups. The day will include lunch, opportunities to learn, network and share experiences.

Event Information (PDF)

Directions

You can also RSVP for this event online or by phone to Anne Scott at (517) 353-0751.

If you are interested in assisting to plan, facilitate, or present at this event, please email directly to communityschoolgardeners@gmail.com

 

 

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

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Meet the Specialty Food Producers Meet & Greet Event - Nov 11th

 

Hi all,

Please see a notice below and attached flyer for details on an up-coming Meet & Greet event designed to introduce Michigan institutional food service directors and buyers from colleges/universities, hospitals, K-12 schools, etc. to clients of the MSU Product Center, who produce Michigan specialty foods. Please feel free to pass this along to any institutional food service contacts you may have.

 

Thanks,

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

 

 

 

 

MEET THE SPECIALTY FOOD PRODUCERS!

 

This Meet & Greet event will give Michigan institutional food service directors

and buyers a chance to meet clients of

 the MSU Product Center who produce Michigan specialty food products.

 

  If you are an institutional food service director or buyer

 who is ready to incorporate locally-produced specialty food

products into your institution’s menus,

join us for this event and get connected!

 

Where: Making It In Michigan Conference

Sponsored by the MSU Product Center

Exhibit Hall at the Lansing Center
333 E Michigan Ave Lansing, MI 48933

 

When: Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

1-2:30 pm during the “General Marketplace”

 

Please RSVP to Colleen Matts at matts@msu.edu or 517.432.0310 by Friday, November 6th if you plan to attend.

The Marketplace and the Meet & Greet event are free of charge.

 

For more conference information and vendors, please see www.makingitinmichigan.msu.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Farm to School News

Greetings all,

Here are this month's Farm to School news bites:

NEWS

"Agriculture Secretary Supports Direct Certification as Way to Streamline School Meal Application Process" USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently told a children's health conference that he supports "direct certification" for child nutrition programs, which would remove paperwork barriers for children receiving free and reduced-price school meals.

"Free Breakfast Program Enters Second Year in Michigan School DistrictBelding School District in Michigan began offering free breakfast to all students last year and is continuing the program for a second year because the program has proved itself to be successful as students were more eager to learn in the mornings, fewer discipline problems among the students, and better attendance

"Michigan School District Offers Free Breakfast Wins School Breakfast Challenge"
Manton Consolidated Schools in Michigan won a silver award (and $2,500) from the state's Department of Education in recognition of student participation in the school breakfast program from their over 700% increase in breakfast attendance from average of 75 students in May 2008 to 570 students in May 2009.

"Students Say It Best: 'We Need Better School Food' " Check out this student made video calling for better food in schools!

"Lunch Ladies and School Lunch ProgramsIf you didn't catch it, check out this interview with Jean Ronnei, Director of Nutrition Services for the St. Paul (MN) Public Schools, on The Splendid Table radio program this past week.

 

EVENTS

This is a reminder to all Food Service Directors attending the up-coming School Nutrition Association of Michigan conference in Lansing: if you are interested and available to attend the tour of MSU's Student Organic Farm (SOF), please RSVP to matts@msu.edu by Thursday, October 15th. Please include your nameyour school or district name, and your email address. Before the tour, I will send details and directions by email to all that RSVP.

 

OPPORTUNITIES

The University of Minnesota Extension is looking for a full-time Farm to School Extension CoordinatorThis position will provide facilitation, and statewide coordination, to leverage Farm to School-related efforts associated with the University of Minnesota Extension Family Development programs along with the University of Minnesota's Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. Please see attachment for more the job description.

Hidden Valley Love Your Veggies Grant Program
This grant program
 seeks to increase access and consumption of fresh fruits and veggies in school lunchrooms.  Applicants must be an elementary school; $10,000 awards will be based on need, innovation, and sustainable impact. The deadline for applications is 11/6/2009.  For more info, go to www.loveyourveggies.com/guidelines.php.

 

Best,

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

Thursday, October 8, 2009

FW: October Listerv

Greetings all,

Here are this month’s Farm to School news bites:

NEWS

Agriculture Secretary Supports Direct Certification as Way to Streamline School Meal Application Process” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently told a children's health conference that he supports "direct certification" for child nutrition programs, which would remove paperwork barriers for children receiving free and reduced-price school meals.

Free Breakfast Program Enters Second Year in Michigan School District” Belding School District in Michigan began offering free breakfast to all students last year and is continuing the program for a second year because the program has proved itself to be successful as students were more eager to learn in the mornings, fewer discipline problems among the students, and better attendance

Michigan School District Offers Free Breakfast Wins School Breakfast Challenge
Manton Consolidated Schools in Michigan won a silver award (and $2,500) from the state's Department of Education in recognition of student participation in the school breakfast program from their over 700% increase in breakfast attendance from average of 75 students in May 2008 to 570 students in May 2009.

Students Say It Best: ‘We Need Better School Food’ ” Check out this student made video calling for better food in schools!

 

Lunch Ladies and School Lunch ProgramsIf you didn’t catch it, check out this interview with Jean Ronnei, Director of Nutrition Services for the St. Paul (MN) Public Schools, on The Splendid Table radio program this past week.

 

EVENTS

This is a reminder to all Food Service Directors attending the up-coming School Nutrition Association of Michigan conference in Lansing: if you are interested and available to attend the tour of MSU’s Student Organic Farm (SOF), please RSVP to matts@msu.edu by this Friday, October 9th. Please include your name, your school or district name, and your email address. Before the tour, I will send details and directions by email to all that RSVP.

 

OPPORTUNITIES

The University of Minnesota Extension is looking for a full-time Farm to School Extension Coordinator. This position will provide facilitation, and statewide coordination, to leverage Farm to School-related efforts associated with the University of Minnesota Extension Family Development programs along with the University of Minnesota’s Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. Please see attachment for more the job description.

Hidden Valley Love Your Veggies Grant Program
This grant program seeks to increase access and consumption of fresh fruits and veggies in school lunchrooms.  Applicants must be an elementary school; $10,000 awards will be based on need, innovation, and sustainable impact. The deadline for applications is 11/6/2009.  For more info, go to www.loveyourveggies.com/guidelines.php.

 

Best,

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