Hi all,
Check out the latest Farm to School news and info!
NEWS
FoodCorp Launched! Michigan FoodCorps members arrived in Michigan last month to start their service terms. The New York Times, Time and Parade's Dash Magazine all ran features (among a host of other great blog pieces) about the launch of the national FoodCorp program! Check them out, and share with your friends and colleagues:
· Click here for the NY Times piece by Mark Bittman
· Click here for the Time story
· Click here for the Dash story
Oregon State Legislature passes HB2800, the Farm to School and School Garden Bill
With unanimous bipartisan support from both the Oregon House and Senate, the Farm to School and School Garden bill was passed earlier this summer. Check out the press release here and the bill here.
School Food Reimbursement Rates Updated
The USDA has issued the national average payments/maximum reimbursement rates for meals and snacks served to children in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and afterschool snack programs for the new school year. These rates, along with those for the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), were published in the July 20, 2011 Federal Register and are effective July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012.
Value of Donated Foods Adjusted for each lunch served by schools in the National School Lunch Program and for meals served in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) was also announced. For the period of July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2012, the national average value is 22.25 cents per meal. For additional information from the Federal Register, click here.
Michigan Farm to School's School Food Budgets two-pager has been updated with this reimbursement and donated foods information. Click here to learn more about school food budgets including common procurement methods, funding sources, and typical costs for school food service programs.
EVENTS
MSU Product Center: Making It In Michigan 2011
October 19, 2011
Lansing Center, Lansing, MI
http://www.makingitinmichigan.msu.edu/
Tools for Schools: Go! For Implementing Michigan’s Nutrition Standards
Sponsored by Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Department of Community Health and United Dairy Industry of Michigan, this free training for teachers, administrators, school health staff, food service professionals, parents and health champions will focus on using the new Michigan nutrition standards at schools. See attachment for dates and locations.
Conference Call Series: Afterschool Matters
FRAC has initiated Afterschool Matters, a new monthly conference call series, to discuss different aspects of the Afterschool Meal Program. The next call is on September 14 at 1 pm and focuses on Conducting Outreach for the Afterschool Meal Program. Register for the first Afterschool Matters call here.
Save the dates for future calls:
· October 12, 1 p.m. -- Reducing Administrative Barriers
· November 16, 1 p.m. – Building School Participation
· December 14, 1 p.m. -- Recruiting and Supporting Large Sponsors
2011 Community School Gardener Networking Meeting
November 5, 2011 from 9am-5pm
Wayne County Community College, Eastern Campus in Detroit, MI
If you plan to attend, please fill out this brief survey to help organize this year’s event and shape it best for you.
Click here to learn more about the event.
RESOURCES
FRAC’s Afterschool Meal Guide
This online resource can help afterschool programs get ready to receive federal funding through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and participate in providing healthy afterschool meals to children. Learn more here.
National Kids Count Data Book
The Michigan League for Human Servies in collaboration with the Annie E. Casey Foundation has released the annual Kids Count Data Book, a comprehensive resource on the well-being of children in the US featuring state-specific data. This year's book focuses on the impact of the national recession on children. The report is available at www.kidscount.org.
On-Farm Food Safety Questionnaire for Food Service Personnel
This food safety questionnaire by the University of Minnesota aims to provide food service directors questions to ask and the types of answers to listen for as they work with local farmers to get farm fresh produce into their schools. See attachment for the guide.
Check out these Farm to School Resources from USDA Food and Nutrition Service:
OPPORTUNITIES
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is accepting pre-applications for projects under the State of Michigan’s Community Development Block Grant Farm to Food and Downtown Infrastructure Grant programs. Submissions for the 2011 program will be accepted until October 21, 2011. Click here for more information. If you have any questions, please contact Katharine Czarnecki at czarneckik@michigan.org.
The Whole Kids Foundation in collaboration with Whole Foods Market and FoodCorps is providing grants of $2,000 to support school garden projects! School garden projects at any stage of development - planning, construction or operation - may apply! Click here to learn more and apply. Applications are due December 31, 2011 at 5PM.
Happy September, and all the best for a great school year!
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
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