More Farm to School News

Greetings,

Some of these news bites are a little overdue, but I wanted to be sure to share them nonetheless. Enjoy!

NEWS:

School Lunches are a National Security Threat?
A group of retired military leaders said that Americans are becoming “too fat to fight.” Click here to read their report, which says that more than 27% of young adults (ages 17-24) are too overweight for military service. These military leaders are encouraging Congress to remove junk food from schools, improve nutritional standards and quality of school meals, and to increase access to anti-obesity programs. Here is more news regarding this new report:

•  Ex-military leaders: Young adults 'too fat to fight' (CNN)  
•   Report: American Childhood Obesity Threatening National Security (NBC)

 

School Sites Selected for USDA Farm to School Team Site Visits
290 schools across the country applied for consideration for a Farm to School site visit by the new USDA Farm to School Team. Thanks to all of those in Michigan who applied! Only 15 sites were selected and recently notified. They are:

Harrisonburg                                                   Harrisonburg, VA           
Boston Public Schools                                     Boston, MA       
Jamestown Public Schools                              Jamestown, RI      
Burlington Vermont Public Schools                Burlington, VT    
Jefferson County Public Schools                     Louisville, KY    
Montgomery County Public Schools               Mount Sterling, KY         
Chilton Public Schools                                     Chilton, WI     
Hilbert Public Schools                                     Hilbert, WI     
Independence Community School District     Independence, IA         
Union Public Schools                                       Tulsa, OK      
Morrison Public School                                   Morrison,  OK     
Ventura Unified School District                      Ventura, CA         
Riverside Unified School District                    Riverside, CA   
Bethel School District                                     Eugene, OR          
Eugene School District 4J                                Eugene, OR      

 

FoodCorps Garden Building & Summit

For your viewing pleasure, click here to view photos that were taken at the FoodCorps Garden Building and Summit that took place at the National Farm to School Conference in Detroit last month. If you would like to share photos you took at the conference, please post them on the conference event page on Facebook and to SlideShare.

School Food 101

Check out the School Food 101 Webinar that was presented by the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU and School Food FOCUS on May 5, 2010! Click here.

 

OPPORTUNITIES:

Is your school interested in gluten-free and/or dairy-free products? If so, check out Dennett’s Gluten (all) & Dairy (99%) Free Creations product availability and wholesale price list (attached). Please contact Sherry Adams-Dennett directly at sherry@dennettsglutenfree.com for more information or to place an order.

 

EVENTS:

Food System Economic Partnership Annual Conference
When: June 24, 2010
Where: Jackson Area Career Center
Register on-line at http://www.fsepconference.org/ 
Click here for more information.

Movie Screening and Information Session of “Two Angry Moms”

When: Saturday, June 26 from 1-4 PM
Where: Capital Area District Library

There is a free screening of the documentary "Two Angry Moms" which explores the questions “what are our children are eating at school, how  is it impacting their learning, their behavior, and their health?” This event is hosted by Rachael Hilliker and is free, but please RSVP here. For more information about “Two Angry Moms”, please visit www.angrymoms.org.

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution 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