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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

FoodCorps Call for Host Sites

Hi all,

Check out this article about FoodCorps by Debra Eschmeyer of the National Farm to School Network!

http://civileats.com/2010/08/30/foodcorps-call-for-host-sites/

 

If you’re interested in becoming a host site in Fall 2011 for FoodCorps, a new national AmericCorps service program, please note that letters of inquiry from interested host sites are due by Friday, September 17th. Also, feel free to join in on the conference call on Thursday, September 2nd  to learn more about the host site selection process. You’ll find details and links in the article listed above. Please let me know if you plan to submit a letter of inquiry – this is a great opportunity for additional manpower to help develop and expand farm to school programs in Michigan!

 

Best,

 

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

 

 

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

MI Good Food webinar

FYI!

 

Good-Foodlogo_lores.jpg

 

Announcing “The Next Step: Taking the MI Good Food Charter to Policymakers” webinar.

 

            September 7th

            Noon – 1pm (Eastern Time)

 

Please REGISTER by Friday September 3rd, 2010.

 

If you have ever wondered…

§  How can I get the attention of candidates and other policymakers?

§  What do candidates want to hear? How can I be prepared?

§  Who in my local community should I talk to about food policies?

….then this webinar is for you!

 

Following up on the “Your Guide to the Michigan Good Food Charter” webinar in July, this webinar will discuss how to take the goals and agenda priorities in the Michigan Good Food Charter to candidates and policymakers. The webinar will cover what you need to know to approach both state and local level policymakers and where to start with different food policy issues, using specific examples from the charter.

 

Webinar Agenda:

Welcome and Introductions  

Kathryn Colasanti, C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU

Approaching State Legislative Candidates and State Legislators

Jean Doss, J. Doss Consulting, LLC

Approaching Local Appointed and Elected Officials

Guy Williams, G.O. Williams & Associates, LLC

Q&A and Discussion

               

Please REGISTER in advance by Friday September 3rd, 2010. See:  https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEpoNUNnc1ppdW94YjhwYm5jdkI2SUE6MQ

 

We look forward to your participation!

Kathryn

 

Kathryn J. A. Colasanti

C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Department of Community, Agriculture,

       Recreation & Resource Studies

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources

East Lansing, MI 48824

517.353.0642

colokat@msu.edu 

 

 

 

Friday, August 20, 2010

Michigan Farm to School News

Hi all,

Here are the latest Farm to School news bites:

NEWS

Senate Passes Child Nutrition Bill
On August 5th, the Child Nutrition Bill known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed in the Senate. This bill provides an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to federal child nutrition programs, including a $.06 increase in reimbursements, expanded eligibility for school meals programs, and $40 million for a farm to school competitive grant program. In addition, the bill aims to improve the quality of school meals and mandates that the Department of Agriculture develop nutrition standards for all foods in schools, not just the food served in school meals programs. However, to fund these improvements in Child Nutrition Programs, this version of the bill makes cuts to important SNAP (formerly known as food stamp) benefits. To learn more, here’s an article from the Washington Post and a post from the National Sustainable Agriculture CoalitionClick here to read full bill text. 

 

Income Guidelines for National Free and Reduced Price Meals for Schools, and Child and Adult Care Programs Announced

Please see the attached press release for income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price meals and free milk through the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Special Milk, and Child and Adult Care Food Programs for the 2010/2011 school year. Check out our School Food Budgets Fact Sheet for more info.

 

Farm To School: A Conversation with Marion Kalb, Part 2

Watch Marion Kalb of the National Farm to School Network continue her conversation about Farm to School here. Marion discusses some of the challenges, practical strategies, and opportunities to incorporate farm fresh foods into school meals programs. 

 

Lentz Shares Love of Organic Foods With Community
Just one way Deb Lentz of TantrĂ© Farm in Chelsea, MI has supported her community is by visiting classrooms in Ann Arbor Public School District for the past five years now, teaching kids about healthy eating and local foods. Read full story here. 

 

School District & Farmers Team Up
Renee DeWindt, Food Service Director for Benzie area schools, is teaming up with farmers to get more local foods into school cafeterias with grant support. They’re looking for more farmers around the area to get involved! Read full story here.

 

School Food, Is there Hope? Chef Ann Cooper Opens the Lunch Box (Q & A)
Chef Ann Cooper,  "the Renegade Lunch Lady," talks about The Lunch Box, a portal for recipes, tools, and community discussion. Read full interview.

 

OPPORTUNITIES

NCR-SARE Announces 2010 Call for Proposals
Proposals are now being accepted for the 2010 North Central Region - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) Farmer Rancher Grants (due December 2, 2010) and Youth and Youth Educator Grants (due January 14, 2011). More information for the Farmer Rancher Grants can be found here, and you can learn more about the Youth and Youth Educator Grants here. Contact Joan Benjamin at benjaminj@lincolnu.edu or 573-681-5545 or 800-529-1342 with questions.

People's Garden School Pilot Program 
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is requesting applications to enter into a cooperative agreement to award grants to develop and run gardens at eligible high-poverty schools. See the Request for Applications attached for more information. 

 

Best,

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

 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Fruitport Community Schools Request for Quotes

Farmers and vendors,

Attached is yet another request for quotes (RFQ) for local food. This RFQ is from Fruitport Community Schools, which is interested in purchasing locally-grown apples, pears, tomatoes, green peppers, plums, potatoes, blueberries, and cucumbers, but feel free to let them know of any additional products you may be interested in selling to school district. Quotes must be faxed, emailed, or delivered in writing by noon on Friday, August 27th. Please contact Pat McGee, Director of Food Services, directly if you have any questions.

 

Thanks,

 

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

 

 

Monday, August 9, 2010

Request for bids for Traverse City Area Public Schools

Attention farmers and food vendors,

Traverse City Area Public Schools is now accepting proposals for fruits and vegetables and their delivery to all schools within the district. See the attached request for more information and details. Products of interest include apples (Gala, Royal Gala and Empire), asparagus, cherries (frozen sweet and tart), salad mix, lettuce (cut Romaine), peaches, pears, potatoes, strawberries (individually quick frozen), and butternut and acorn squash. Proposals are due in writing by noon on Friday, August 27, 2010. Please be in touch directly with Kristen Misiak, Food Service Director, at 231.933.1911 or misiakkr@tcaps.net if you  have any questions.

 

Thanks,

 

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

 

 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

FW: Request for Quotes - Livingston & Washtenaw County Farm to School Programs

Hi all,

This is just a reminder to our farmers and food vendors that quotes for locally-grown produce for school districts in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties (list below) are due by noon next Monday, August 9th. Please see the email below and the attached request for quotes for more information and details. Feel free to contact directly the participating school food service directors, Michaelle Rehmann of the Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) at rehmannm@fsepmichigan.org or 517-490-6912, or me for additional information.

 

Thanks,

 

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

 

From: Colleen Matts [mailto:matts@ANR.MSU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 2:49 PM
To: MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU
Subject: Request for Quotes - Livingston & Washtenaw County Farm to School Programs

 

Attention farmers and vendors:

 

Participating school food service directors in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties are now accepting proposal for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables for delivery to any or all of the following school districts:

·         Chelsea School District

·         Dexter Community School District

·         Fowlerville Community Schools

·         Hartland Consolidated Schools

·         Howell Public School District

·         Saline Area Schools

·         Whitmore Lake Public Schools

 

Proposals will be accepted for wide variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables for the 2010/2011 school year for all school districts, some of which will also operate summer food service programs in the summer of 2011. This is a great way for farmers in and around Livingston and Washtenaw Counties to diversify or expand their markets!

 

Please see the attached cover letter and bid packet for details. Contact the participating school food service directors directly  if you have any questions about this market opportunity- their contact information is included in the cover letter. Note that proposals are due by noon on August 9th, 2010. Feel free to contact me or Michaelle Rehmann of the Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) (rehmannm@fsepmichigan.org or 517-490-6912)  for additional information as well.

 

Thanks so much,

 

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