FW: ACTION ALERT: House will vote on Child Nutrition this week!

Greetings all,

 

Please see the action alert below from the Community Food Security Coalition regarding Child Nutrition Reauthorization, which will be voted on by the House this week. If you care to weigh in, call your Representative soon!

 

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

 

From: The Community Food Security Coalition [mailto:contact=foodsecurity.org@mcsv66.net] On Behalf Of The Community Food Security Coalition
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 2:51 PM
To: smtedeschi@wisc.edu
Subject: ACTION ALERT: House will vote on Child Nutrition this week!

 

Unsubscribe - Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.   September 22, 2010 ACTION ALERT: HOUSE WILL VOTE ON CHILD NUTRITION THIS WEEK   URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO MOVE FORWARD NOW ON FARM TO SCHOOL FUNDING IN THE CHILD NUTRITION BILL! It has come to our attention that The House will vote on a Child Nutrition package (The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, S. 3307) this week! This legislation contains several major improvements to nutrition quality, access, and program integrity for school meal programs, including: Mandatory funding for Farm to School Programs ($40 million); A 6-cent increase in the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches; Establishes national nutrition standards for all foods sold on school campuses throughout the school day; Improvements in the direct certification process; and Expansion of the afterschool meals program. For a complete list of provisions included in this legislation, click here [pdf]. If passed, this legislation would be the first major improvement in the school meals program in more than three decades, and CFSC strongly supports the Farm to School provision as an important direction for school meals by linking cafeterias directly with regional food producers. Though a bitter pill to swallow with the bill being paid for using money from the SNAP stimulus benefits, this is likely our last and best opportunity to see a Child Nutrition bill passed and to win mandatory funding for Farm to School programs this year. Please call your Representatives and urge them to pass the Child Nutrition bill this week. t's easy to call.  Go to Congress.org and type in your zip code.  Click on your Representative's name, and then on the contact tab for their phone number.  You can also call the Capitol Switchboard and ask to be directly connected to your Representative's office: 202-224-3121. The message is simple. "I am a constituent of Representative ___________ and I am calling to ask him/her to support the Child Nutrition bill (The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, S. 3307) which is coming up for a vote this week."  Background If funded, the Farm to School Program would offer competitive grants to schools or non-profit organizations to develop purchasing relationships with local farmers, plan seasonal menus, start school gardens, develop hands-on nutrition education, and provide solutions to infrastructure problems including storage, transportation, food preparation, and technical training.   A Farm to School grant program was authorized in the 2004 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, but USDA has never requested any funding for the program.  Congress now has an opportunity to fund this important program when it reauthorizes the Child Nutrition Act in 2010. Farm to School initiatives around the country have demonstrated that Farm to School is a win-win-win for children, schools, local communities and farmers -- providing abundant reasons why this initiative should be available to schools throughout the country. The choice of healthier produce options in the school cafeteria through Farm to School results in children consuming more fruits and vegetables, leading to lifelong improvements in their diets. Schools report a 3 to 16 percent increase in school meal participation when farm-fresh food is served, bringing more school lunch funds to the schools. Working creatively with local producers, some schools have found ways to save money while supporting local agriculture by purchasing locally. The transaction from Farm to School keeps dollars in the local economy, strengthening local economies and creating jobs. Schools provide an important new market opportunity for small and mid-sized family farmers and ranchers.Click here for additional information on Farm to School and our campaign.   For more background information on Farm to School programs and our campaign, click here. Click here for additional information on the SNAP offset. Passage of the bill has become a White House priority in the last several weeks with the First Lady encouraging Congress to act and an open letter from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and 100 retired generals and admirals presented to Congress yesterday (September 21) calling for immediate passage of the legislation.   The Farm to School Collaborative, a cross-sector alliance of school, nutrition, rural, and sustainable agriculture groups and farmers, has been leading the campaign for mandatory funding for Farm to School programs in the upcoming Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization (CNR). Members of the Farm to School Collaborative include the Community Food Security Coalition, National Farm to School Network, School Food FOCUS, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the Wallace Center at Winrock International.  For more background information on Farm to School programs and our campaign, click here.  Questions? Please contact the CFSC Policy Office: 202-543-8602 Thank you for your help! Community Food Security Coalition Community Food Security Coalition 110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 307, Washington DC, 20002 Phone [202] 543-8602 | www.FoodSecurity.org The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) is a non-profit 501(c)(3), North American organization dedicated to building strong, sustainable, local and regional food systems that ensure access to affordable, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food for all people at all times. We seek to develop self-reliance among all communities in obtaining their food and to create a system of growing, manufacturing, processing, making available, and selling food that is regionally based and grounded in the principles of justice, democracy, and sustainability. Unsubscribe smtedeschi@wisc.edu from this list or change your subscription preferences. Forward this email to a friend

FW: Food Safety Action Update

FYI!

 

 

---

From: School Food FOCUS [sdavidson@schoolfoodfocus.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 10:08 AM
To: Colleen Matts
Subject: Fwd: Food Safety Action Update

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

Food Safety Action Update from Community Food Security Coalition Greetings, FOCUS stakeholders! There is a food safety bill in the Senate that could be voted on today that could affect Farm to School programs. This legislation increases regulations on farms that even minimally process their crops and thus threatens to overwhelm small direct market farms and processors selling to restaurants, food coops, groceries, schools, etc. An amendment sponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) would exempt small farm and small food processing facilities as well as small and mid-sized farmers who primarily direct market their products to consumers, stores or restaurants within their region from this legislation.  Below is an update and alert with more information from our friends at the Community Food Security Coalition. Warmest regards, School Food FOCUS Team ----------------------------Begin forwarded message--------------------------- Food Safety Needs Your Action NOW! We apologize for the short turn around CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THE TESTER AMENDMENT Make sure food safety legislation does not shut down local foods! The Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) could reach the Senate floor as early as today. This legislation considerably ramps up FDA regulation on farms that even minimally process their crops and thus threatens to overwhelm small direct market farms and processors selling to restaurants, food coops, groceries, schools, etc. Spurred by dangerous foodborne pathogens in long industrial food chains that have proven difficult to trace and remedy, this legislation fails to take into account the existing local and state regulatory framework that governs local food producers. An amendment sponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) would exempt small farm and small food processing facilities as well as small and mid-sized farmers who primarily direct market their products to consumers, stores or restaurants within their region from this legislation. Contact your Senators and ask them to vote YES for the Tester amendment to fix the FDA Federal Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510).     It's easy to call.   You can get your Senator's name and direct number by going to Congress.org and typing in your zip code.  You can also call the Capitol Switchboard, provide your Senator's name and be directly connected to their office: (202) 225-3121.   Once connected to your Senator's office ask to speak to the aide that works on child nutrition. The message is simple.  "I am a constituent of ________ and I am calling to ask him/her to vote YES on the Tester amendment to S. 510 - "The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act".  The Tester amendment will exempt small farm and food facilities and farmers who direct market their products to consumers, stores or restaurants. Background Information In August, a recall to prevent the spread of salmonella contaminated eggs involved over half a billion eggs pulled off supermarket shelves in over 12 states under at least 25 different labels, even though they originated on just two related farms in Iowa. The story is emblematic of a highly concentrated food system characterized by long and difficult to trace supply chains and distribution systems. This situation is what S. 510 is supposed to address. Unfortunately, without Sen. Tester's common sense amendment to S. 510, the bill threatens to undermine the resurgence of vibrant local food businesses supplying growing consumer desire to know their producers and buy fresh, wholesome local produce, meat and other products. Thus we can not support a food safety bill without Senator Tester's amendment.   Visit our partner organization's for additional background information on the bill. Western Organization of Resource Councils National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition   Questions? Please contact the CFSC Policy Office: 202-543-8602 Thank you for your help! Community Food Security Coalition

Forward email This email was sent to matts@msu.edu by sdavidson@schoolfoodfocus.org. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by School Food FOCUS | c/o Public Health Solutions | 220 Church Street, 5th Floor | New York | NY | 10013

Michigan Farm to School News

Hi all,

 

Here are the latest Farm to School news bites to start off the school year: 

 

NEWS

 

First Lady Asks Congress to Join Childhood Obesity Fight 

Michelle Obama is kicking off the next phase of her Let's Move! campaign that addresses childhood obesity by encouraging kids exercise and providing more free and reduced price meals and improving the quality of food options at schools. The Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization is critical to support Let’s Move! and its goals. Read more here. 

 

Making School Food Healthier

Numerous efforts are underway to improve the quality of foods served in schools, including the Let’s Move! campaign, the Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization, local policies, farm to school, and Chefs Move to Schools. Read more here.

 

ERS Announces Partnership with the National Farm to School Network
The Economic Research Service is joining forces with the National Farm to School Network to track Farm to School programs, including school gardens, across the country. Read the full article here. 

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

Springport Public Schools: Nutrition Education Project Coordinator
Springport Public Schools is currently seeking a Program Coordinator to manage Springport’s Nutrition Education through Gardening program. The deadline for submitting applications is 3:00 PM on September 10, 2010. See attachment for more details.   

 

FoodCorps Call for Host Sites
FoodCorps is a developing branch of the AmeriCoprs program that focuses on school food systems, including nutrition education, school gardens, and farm to school, in high need communities. FoodCorps is searching for sites to host service members. The open period for Letters of Inquiry from potential host sites closes on Friday, September 17th. Go here to learn more, and let us know if you plan to submit a letter of inquiry to be a host site!

 

‘Renegade Lunch Lady’ and Whole Foods Market Invite Schools to Apply for Grants to Fund Salad Bars
Whole Food Market and Chef Ann Cooper are working together to provide healthy salad bars to schools through the Great American Salad Bar Project’s grant program. They are seeking applications from schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and are located within 50 miles of a Whole Foods store. Apply electronically for the grant here before November 1, 2010! 

 

The 2011 Community Food Projects Request for Applications for competitive grants for community-based food and agriculture projects nationwide has been announced. Click here for details and here for resources from the Community Food Security Coalition. Grant proposals are due November 17, 2010! 

 

Recipes for Healthy Kids Challenge
As part of the Let’s Move! campaign, the USDA is offering cash prizes for winning student teams who submit original recipes that meet the whole grain foods, dark green and/or orange vegetables, and dry beans and peas (legumes) nutrition requirements for school meals. The deadline for recipe submissions is December 30, 2010! Click here to learn more.

 

 

EVENTS

 

Two Angry Moms Free Moving Screening

Hosted by Lansing.MomsLikeMe.com

Saturday, September 25^th

10 am – 12 pm

Celebration! Cinema

200 E. Edgewood Blvd.
Lansing, MI 48911

See attached email for more info

 

Making it in Michigan: Conference and Tradeshow
Hosted by the MSU Product Center

October 26, 2010 
Lansing, MI 
Register at www.makingitinmichigan.msu.edu

 

 

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

 

FW: REVISED - Chicago Public Schools looking for Michigan Produce

Hi all,

Chicago Public Schools is looking for Midwest-grown foods for their school meals program. Please see the email below for more information about this opportunity. Note that the deadline for responses is September 10^th. Apologies for cross posting!

 

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

 

 

From: Emily R. Beutel [mailto:buckhame@ANR.MSU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 2:06 PM
To: FOODSPEAK@LIST.MSU.EDU
Subject: [FOODSPEAK] Chicago Public Schools looking for Michigan Produce

 

Great opportunity for Michigan farmers to help supply Chicago Public Schools with Michigan produce.  More information about the produce needed and their amounts can be found in the attached Request for Information(proposal) or at http://www.miffs.org/media/RFI8-17b.pdf. If you have any questions, contact

 

Jean Saunders

Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality

Ph: (773) 722-4964

Jean.Saunders@Compass‐usa.com

 

Jim Slama

Family Farmed

Ph: (708)763-9920

jimslama@familyfarmed.org

 

 

Emily (Buckham) Beutel
Communications Manager

Michigan Food & Farming Systems - MIFFS
Bringing Farmers and Communities Together

172 Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
Ph: (517) 432-0712
Fx: (517) 353-7961
www.miffs.org

 

To unsubscribe from this list, send an email with "SIGNOFF FOODSPEAK" in the subject line to LISTSERV@LIST.MSU.EDU.

To unsubscribe from this list, send an email with "SIGNOFF FOODSPEAK" in the subject line to LISTSERV@LIST.MSU.EDU.