Michigan Farm to School News

Hi all,

I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend. Here are the latest Farm to School news bites: 

NEWS

Michigan's Obesity Rate Among Nation's Highest – “Michigan is the only state outside the South with one of the nation's highest obesity rates, according to a report released Tuesday by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.”

Grassroots, Lobbyists Pressure Congress On School Lunch - Activists around the nation, including Michigan’s own Rachel Hilliker, are working to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. 

Chris Bedford from the Center for Economic Security made a 4 minute video called “Eating Smart” on healthy, local foods in the school lunch program at Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools. You can purchase a copy of the video and a new 27 minute Farm to School presentation about proposed changes to use local and healthy foods and scratch cooking in school meals in Muskegon County. If you’re interested, make your $20 check out to: Center for Economic Security, 6543 Hancock Road, Montague, MI. Income from the sale of these DVDs will support the campaign website (www.healthyschoolmeals.org) and the work of the campaign.

Announcing the Release Of The Michigan Good Food Charter! The Michigan Good Food Charter is now available at www.michiganfood.org. The charter presents a vision for Michigan’s food and agriculture system and outlines agenda priorities for the next 10 years. Check it out!

Also newly released is the “Model Business Plan for Season Extension with Hoophouses” (Extension Bulletin E-3112) by David Conner of the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University. This document can help farmers develop their own business plans for hoophouse production. You can access this PDF document from this link - http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/PublicationsPresentations/FarmingandProduction/tabid/150/Default.aspx, then click on “Hoophouse Season Extension Model Business Plan.”

OPPORTUNITIES 

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is announcing the opportunity for public and not-for-profit organizations to submit applications for a Hunger-Free Communities grants. FNS must receive completed grant applications by September 1, 2010. Applications may be submitted at HungerFreeCommunities@fns.usda.gov. Follow these links for more information: 
- Press Release
- Cover Letter
- Request for Application
- Prospective Applicants Webinar 

 

Stay cool,

 

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