FW: updates regarding the USDA farm to school grant program - please spread the word

Hi all,

For those of you who may be interested in applying for the first USDA Farm to School Grants, please see a note below about a few updates. Applications are due by June 15^th!

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

From: Kane, Deborah - FNS [mailto:Deborah.Kane@fns.usda.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 2:02 PM
To: Kane, Deborah - FNS
Cc: Brown, Laura - FNS; Conell, Christina - FNS; Kriviski, Diane - FNS
Subject: updates regarding the USDA farm to school grant program - please spread the word

 

Hello all,

 

Just a quick update regarding the USDA farm to school grant program. All of this is now noted on the USDA website, but I thought I’d highlight a few things for you:

 

·        A new form is required – one that better captures free and reduced price meal participation rates. Applicants will need to submit this supplemental form in order to be deemed eligible. (Accessed online.)

·        The CCR registration system is changing right in the midst of our submission period, making some of the info in the RFA out of date. (Details online.)

·        A link to the implementation grant webinar held last week is now available; the planning grant webinar should be posted shortly. (On YouTube; see links online.)

·        The FAQs have been updated with this info and also now include many of the questions that were asked during the webinars last week. (Accessed online.)

 

Anyone who submitted a letter of intent or is on our listserve will receive this info. Just wanted to make sure you had it as well. Thanks so much for your help in spreading the word!

 

All best,

Deborah

 

Deborah J. Kane

National Director, USDA Farm to School Program

(c) 503.260.1717

 

 

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

Michigan Farm to School News

Greetings,

Enjoy the latest Farm to School–related news bites!

 

 

NEWS

 

Rule on Compliance for Six-cents Per Meal Incentive

The USDA has published a rule explaining the certification of compliance process for schools to receive a performance-based cash incentive of six-cents per meal under the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010. Learn more about the certification process in the Federal Register here, and read the USDA’s press release here.

 

New Regional Food Hub Resource Guide

The USDA’s first Regional Food Hub Resource Guide, aimed to connect small- and medium- sized producers and help expand their market opportunities, has been released. This comprehensive handbook can be used by anyone interested in creating or strengthening a food hub in their community.

 

Farm to School Thrives in the Midwest

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service Midwest Region “At the Table” newsletter mentions the Great Lakes Farm to School Network and the diverse activities around the region. Check out the exciting happenings in the attached newsletter.

 

Michigan State University’s new Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) is pleased to announce the release of the publication, “Creating Change in the Food System.” This report, authored by Rich Pirog of MSU CRFS and Corry Bregendahl of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, details the growth and achievements of the Regional Food Systems Working Group in Iowa over the past eight years. The report can be accessed at http://bit.ly/ccfsreport

 

A new article from the Journal of School Health explores whether farm to school programs are more common in states with farm to school related laws. Read the article attached.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Summer Meals Matter Conference Call Recording

In case you missed the Summer Meals Matter conference call about the Summer Meals Kick-off Week and Outreach to Parents on May 1^st, you can listen to a recording by calling: (866)854-2507 and entering the conference ID number: 390213.

 

2012 USDA Industry Conference Presentations

USDA Agricultural Market Service Commodity Procurement Division has made available the presentations from the 2012 Industry Conference. Find them here.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

USDA Farm to School Grant Program

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) anticipates awarding up to $3.5 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Initial letters of intent were due on Friday, May 18^th, and applications for Planning and Implementation Grants are due by June 15, 2012. For more information and resources, visit the USDA Farm to School Grant Program webpage here. If you’re interested in applying for this grant opportunity, check out the Colorado Farm to School Task Force’s handy spreadsheet tool (attached) to help facilitate the process.

 

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Grant

The USDA AFRI program will provide up to $1 million grants to programs designed to reduce prevalence of overweight and obesity in children 2-19 years of age.  The Childhood Obesity Program supports Multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants. Find more information and eligibility here. The deadline to apply is June 5, 2012.

 

Healthy Breakfast 4 Kids Grant Program

Food Family Farming Foundation (F3) and Walmart Foundation are partnering to provide more than 100 equipment grants of $2,500 to schools in order to aid in the establishment or improvement of universal breakfast programs. The application period has been extended to September 15, 2012. Find more information, including eligibility info, here.

 

Share Your Farm to School Story and Win

The Roadmaps to Health Prize will award six prizes of $25,000 in order to honor communities who have come together to make needed and lasting healthy changes in their communities. This is a perfect opportunity to share your Farm to School success story! For more information and the online application, click here. Notices of intent are due by May 31^st, and the deadline for full applications is June 7, 2012.

 

Home Depot Foundation Community Impact Grants

Grants up to $5,000 in Home Depot gift cards for tools, materials and services will be awarded to agencies using volunteers to improve the physical health of their communities. The deadline to apply is August 13, 2012.

 

 

EVENTS

 

Michigan Good Food Summit

June 14, 2012

Lansing Center

Lansing, MI

Register here and see agenda attached.

 

2012 National Value Added Agriculture Conference

June 24-26, 2012

Grand Traverse Resort

Traverse City, MI

 

6^th Annual National Farm to Cafeteria Conference

August 2-5, 2012

Burlington, Vermont

Scholarship applications are due May 31.

Register here for early-bird registration, which expires June 1, 2012.

 

 

Happy Michigan Asparagus Month,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

Asparagus posters still available for schools!

Greetings,

For those schools that are planning to celebrate Michigan Asparagus Month by serving some of the yummy green spears on their food service lines, there are still a good number of Michigan asparagus posters left to help you promote your efforts in the cafeteria! Please send an email to me at matts@msu.edu or call 517.432.0310 by Friday, May 18th to indicate the number of posters you would like and the address to which to send them by mail. Posters will be available on a first-come first-serve basis while supplies last. The poster is also available for download and printing, along with recipes and some other asparagus info, on the Michigan Farm to School homepage at www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu. Additionally, check out this new Michigan Fresh Asparagus fact sheet from MSU Extension - http://msue.anr.msu.edu/programs/mi_fresh.

 

Enjoy,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

May is Michigan Asparagus Month!

It’s official! Governor Snyder has declared May Michigan Asparagus Month! Please see the proclamation attached.

 

In celebration of Michigan asparagus month, we encourage schools and other institutions to add Michigan asparagus to their menus! I’ve attached a few asparagus recipes provided by Michigan school food service directors. Check them out if you need ideas or inspiration for serving asparagus! Nutrition and food service directors can work with local farmers and/or their broadline or specialty distributors to source Michigan asparagus through May and most of June. You can use Michigan MarketMaker and Local Harvest to search for asparagus growers in your area, or review the attached list of additional Michigan asparagus distributors, handlers and farm markets that may be able to help schools source fresh, local asparagus or check on prices.

 

For those of you school food service directors that plan to purchase and serve Michigan asparagus, you can contact me if you’d like some Michigan asparagus posters for your cafeterias! Please send an email matts@msu.edu or call 517.432.0310 by Friday, May 10^th to indicate the number of posters you would like and the address to which to send them by mail. Posters will be available on a first-come first-serve basis while supplies last and will be mailed the week of May 14^th.

 

Check out the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board’s website - http://www.asparagus.org/maab/nutrition.html – for more information, and see the following info from our colleagues at the Michigan Department of Education regarding using asparagus in school meals:

 

• How Asparagus and Recipes Fit into the New Meal Pattern
  • ½ Cup of Asparagus Provides (boiled, drained, no adds): 20 calories, 2grams protein, 0.2g fat, 4g carbohydrate, 1.8g fiber, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 13mg sodium
  • Vegetables Group: Asparagus is in the “other vegetables” category, which schools are required to provide ½ to ¾ cup per week to children (requirement depends on age/grade level) (Source: 7 CFR 210.10 (c)(2)(iii))
  • **DISCLAIMER: Asparagus prepared in a wide variety of methods – particularly those that minimize or eliminate the use of added fat and sodium – can be part of an acceptable meal pattern that fits within the new USDA requirements for school meals (released in January 2012 and required for the 2012-2013 school year). However, full compliance is based on a week’s worth of menus for any given meal type (e.g., breakfast, lunch, snack), so the other meal components must also meet requirements to ensure compliance.
• Raw to Prepared Conversions
  • Fresh Asparagus: 1 pound yields 4.8 ¼-cup servings and 2.4 ½-cup servings (cooked vegetable servings)
  • Frozen Asparagus
    • Cuts and Tips: 1 pound yields 8.1 ¼-cup servings and 4.1 ½-cup servings
    • Spears: 1 pound yields 10.7 ¼-cup servings and 5.4 ½-cup servings
  • Canned Asparagus (cuts and tips):
    • No. 10 can (103 oz) yields 27.8 ¼-cup and 13.9 ½-cup heated, drained vegetable servings
    • No. 300 can yields 3.5 ¼-cup and 1.8 ½-cup servings heated, drained vegetable servings
    • 1 pound yields 4.3 ¼-cup heated, drained vegetable servings

Source: Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
Section 2: Vegetables/Fruits
USDA, 2008
Link: http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/FBG_Section_2-VegFruits.pdf

 

Enjoy your adventures with asparagus!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

FW: USDA Releases Farm to School Grant Program Applications

Hello All, 

With the suggested letters of intent for the USDA FtS Grant Program quickly approaching, I'm interested (as are others i'm sure!) in learning just how many, if any, of our Michigan Farm to School-ers are considering applying? As you'll note letters of intent are due to USDA by May 18, 2012 with proposals due shortly after by June 15, 2012. 

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu 

From: "Matts, Colleen" <matts@ANR.MSU.EDU>
Reply-To: "Matts, Colleen" <matts@ANR.MSU.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 10:29 PM
To: "MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU" <MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU>
Subject: FW: USDA Releases Farm to School Grant Program Applications

Hi all,

Please see more info below about the new USDA Farm to School grant program!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

From: National Farm to School Network [mailto:chelsey@farmtoschool.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 4:38 PM
To: Matts, Colleen
Subject: USDA Releases Farm to School Grant Program Applications

 

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

 

USDA releases Farm to School grant program applications      Today the USDA released the request for applications (RFA) for the new Farm to School grant program. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 established funding for grants to support the planning and implementation of Farm to School programs. In this first funding cycle, USDA anticipates awarding up to $3.5 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.       Read more about the grant process and download the RFA here.   Grant funds will be made available on a competitive basis, subject to availability of Federal funds. Applicants are encouraged to first submit a letter of intent and then apply for either a planning grant or an implementation grant. Planning grants are expected to range from $20,000 - $45,000 and represent approximately 25 percent of the total awards. Implementation grants are expected to range from $65,000 - $100,000 and represent approximately 75 percent of the total awards. Both grant types require at least a 25 percent funding match.         Important dates: May 15, 1 p.m. EST -  Webinar (implementation grants) May 17, 1 p.m. EST -  Webinar (planning grants) May 18 - Letter of Intent Deadline (suggested) June 15 -  Applications Due For information about USDA webinars and other updates, be sure to sign up for the USDA Farm to School Listserve.     If you have questions about the grant process, contact: Deborah Kane, 503-326-2010 National Director, Farm to School Program, Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) or Gregory Walton, 703-305-1575 Grants Management Specialist, FNS        The National Farm to School Network supports the work of local Farm to School programs all over the country by providing free training and technical assistance, information services, networking, and support for policy, media and marketing. NFSN is a project of Tides Center..

 

Forward email This email was sent to matts@msu.edu by chelsey@farmtoschool.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. National Farm to School Network | P.M.B # 104 | 8770 West Bryn Mawr Ave, Suite 1300 | Chicago | IL | 60631-3515

Re: Manistee area Farm to School Bid Request

Apologies again - bid request attached here!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

From: Matts, Colleen
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 1:07 PM
To: mifarmtoschool@list.msu.edu; farmmktmi@list.msu.edu
Cc: Momber, Jenice; Kathy Gutowski (kgutowski@manistee.org)
Subject: Manistee area Farm to School Bid Request

 

(Apologies for cross posting)

 

Greetings producers and vendors,

 

Manistee Area Public Schools, Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, and Bear Lake Schools are now accepting proposals for Michigan fruits and vegetables, including apples, asparagus, blueberries, sweet corn, sweet cherries, green beans, lettuce, pears, plums, potatoes, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelon. Proposals will be accepted for locally-grown products for the 2012/2013 school year for all schools, but proposals will also be accepted for delivery for the summer food service program at Manistee High School. Attached in the bid packet are a cover letter with instructions and more details, a vendor questionnaire and a product availability and pricing form for you to complete should you wish for consideration. Proposals must be submitted by 12 noon on June 4^th, 2012.

 

Please contact directly the school food/nutrition service directors with any questions:

 

Kathy Gutowski                                                          Jenice Momber

Director of Nutrition Services                                     Kaleva Norman Dickson and Bear Lake

Manistee Area Public Schools                                    School Districts

525 12^th St.                                                                 Food Service Director

Manistee, MI 49660                                                    4400 N High Bridge Rd                      

231-398-3695                                                              Brethren, MI 49619

kgutowski@manistee.org                                           231-477-5353 ext. 304                                   

jmomber@manistee.org

 

 

 

Thanks for your consideration,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Manistee area Farm to School Bid Request

(Apologies for cross posting)

 

Greetings producers and vendors,

 

Manistee Area Public Schools, Kaleva Norman Dickson School District, and Bear Lake Schools are now accepting proposals for Michigan fruits and vegetables, including apples, asparagus, blueberries, sweet corn, sweet cherries, green beans, lettuce, pears, plums, potatoes, summer squash, winter squash, strawberries, tomatoes and watermelon. Proposals will be accepted for locally-grown products for the 2012/2013 school year for all schools, but proposals will also be accepted for delivery for the summer food service program at Manistee High School. Attached in the bid packet are a cover letter with instructions and more details, a vendor questionnaire and a product availability and pricing form for you to complete should you wish for consideration. Proposals must be submitted by 12 noon on June 4^th, 2012.

 

Please contact directly the school food/nutrition service directors with any questions:

 

Kathy Gutowski                                                          Jenice Momber

Director of Nutrition Services                                     Kaleva Norman Dickson and Bear Lake

Manistee Area Public Schools                                    School Districts

525 12^th St.                                                                 Food Service Director

Manistee, MI 49660                                                    4400 N High Bridge Rd                      

231-398-3695                                                              Brethren, MI 49619

kgutowski@manistee.org                                           231-477-5353 ext. 304                                   

jmomber@manistee.org

 

 

 

Thanks for your consideration,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Announcing the new MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

 

Greetings Michigan Farm to School partners and friends,

We are pleased to announce the creation of the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, a Michigan State University initiative that addresses the potential for more regionally-integrated food systems to promote equity, sustainability and thriving local economies.  The newly-established center will bring together the applied research, education, and outreach expertise of faculty and staff at MSU to advance understanding of and engagement with regional food systems throughout Michigan, the United States, and the world.  The Center’s efforts will leverage the earlier work and partnerships of MSU’s former C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems and the MSU Student Organic Farm, as the two organizations come together to form the Center for Regional Food Systems. 

For more information, please see the full press release attached or at http://foodsystems.msu.edu/uploads/file/CRFSPressRelease.pdf.

---------------------------

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

Re: Michigan Farm to School Grant Program Info Session Recording

 coffee pot is out so you can stop in anytime. Thanks, April

--- Original message ---
Subject: Michigan Farm to School Grant Program Info Session Recording
From: "Murphy, Jekeia" <stilljek@ANR.MSU.EDU>
To: <MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU>
Date: Wednesday, 05/02/2012 3:54 PM

Thanks to all that were able to participate in one or both of our Michigan Farm to School Grant Program Info Sessions last month! 

Recordings of both of the Q&A portions of the 4/20/12 Info session and the entire presentation with Q&A portion from 4/27/12 are available now! Please follow the links listed below to hear/watch the recordings, these will also be available on the website: www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu with other grant program applications and materials. Please remember MI Farm to School Grant Program applications must be submitted to Jekeia Murphy by 5pm on Friday, May 4, 2012. 

Info Session recordings can be accessed using the following links: 

4/20/12 – Q&A portion only (http://csmottgroup.adobeconnect.com/p9bq7r23udn/)

4/27/12 – Entire Session (http://csmottgroup.adobeconnect.com/p5nv5dlysd6/)

Many Thanks!

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu 

From: Jekeia Murphy <stilljek@anr.msu.edu>
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 17:17:52 -0400
To: Jekeia Murphy <stilljek@anr.msu.edu>
Cc: "Matts, Colleen" <matts@anr.msu.edu>
Subject: Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

 

Food service directors must often work through numerous challenges to start or expand farm to school programs. The goal of the MI Farm to School Grant Program is to help overcome some of these challenges, and initiate and expand farm to school programs across the state.

 

With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MI Farm to School Grant Program was able to award EIGHT Michigan K-12 schools/districts with funds to plan for or implement farm to school programs in 2011.  The second grant program year is September 1, 2012 – June 1, 2013, early childcare programs are eligible to apply for planning grants.

 

·         The MI Farm to School Planning Grant will help schools and early childcare programs plan for integrating fresh, local foods into cafeterias AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Action Plan to implement a farm to school program after the grant year.

·         The MI Farm to School Implementation Grant will help schools put existing farm to school plans into action AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Sustainability Plan to keep a farm to school program going and growing in future years.

Eligibility:

·         A goal of this program is to help vulnerable children find more healthy and local food choices in school meals programs. K-12 school food service programs must have at least 50% free and reduced-price meal enrollment and at least 50% of early childcare program participants must be eligible to receive Tier I reimbursement rates at the time this application is completed.

 

·         Only school food service/nutrition directors can apply for their school district(s) or school(s). Food service directors from a school district may choose to focus on a few school buildings or an entire school district's food service program, but the district must have 50% free and reduced price meal enrollment. Private or charter schools may apply as an individual school.

·         Only one application for either the planning or implementation grant (not both) is allowed per district or private/charter school per grant year. 

 

Please review the application materials and sample grant applications attached for more information. You can also find these materials on our website athttp://www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu/index.php?id=48. 

 

To be reviewed, complete applications must be received by 5 pm EST on Friday, May 4^th, 2012. Email completed application as an attachment to Jekeia Murphy at stilljek@msu.edu.

 

 

Best,

 

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu 

Michigan Farm to School Grant Program Info Session Recording

Thanks to all that were able to participate in one or both of our Michigan Farm to School Grant Program Info Sessions last month! 

Recordings of both of the Q&A portions of the 4/20/12 Info session and the entire presentation with Q&A portion from 4/27/12 are available now! Please follow the links listed below to hear/watch the recordings, these will also be available on the website: www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu with other grant program applications and materials. Please remember MI Farm to School Grant Program applications must be submitted to Jekeia Murphy by 5pm on Friday, May 4, 2012. 

Info Session recordings can be accessed using the following links: 

4/20/12 – Q&A portion only (http://csmottgroup.adobeconnect.com/p9bq7r23udn/)

4/27/12 – Entire Session (http://csmottgroup.adobeconnect.com/p5nv5dlysd6/)

Many Thanks!

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu 

From: Jekeia Murphy <stilljek@anr.msu.edu>
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 17:17:52 -0400
To: Jekeia Murphy <stilljek@anr.msu.edu>
Cc: "Matts, Colleen" <matts@anr.msu.edu>
Subject: Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

 

Food service directors must often work through numerous challenges to start or expand farm to school programs. The goal of the MI Farm to School Grant Program is to help overcome some of these challenges, and initiate and expand farm to school programs across the state.

 

With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MI Farm to School Grant Program was able to award EIGHT Michigan K-12 schools/districts with funds to plan for or implement farm to school programs in 2011.  The second grant program year is September 1, 2012 – June 1, 2013, early childcare programs are eligible to apply for planning grants.

 

·         The MI Farm to School Planning Grant will help schools and early childcare programs plan for integrating fresh, local foods into cafeterias AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Action Plan to implement a farm to school program after the grant year.

·         The MI Farm to School Implementation Grant will help schools put existing farm to school plans into action AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Sustainability Plan to keep a farm to school program going and growing in future years.

Eligibility:

·         A goal of this program is to help vulnerable children find more healthy and local food choices in school meals programs. K-12 school food service programs must have at least 50% free and reduced-price meal enrollment and at least 50% of early childcare program participants must be eligible to receive Tier I reimbursement rates at the time this application is completed.

 

·         Only school food service/nutrition directors can apply for their school district(s) or school(s). Food service directors from a school district may choose to focus on a few school buildings or an entire school district's food service program, but the district must have 50% free and reduced price meal enrollment. Private or charter schools may apply as an individual school.

·         Only one application for either the planning or implementation grant (not both) is allowed per district or private/charter school per grant year. 

 

Please review the application materials and sample grant applications attached for more information. You can also find these materials on our website athttp://www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu/index.php?id=48. 

 

To be reviewed, complete applications must be received by 5 pm EST on Friday, May 4^th, 2012. Email completed application as an attachment to Jekeia Murphy at stilljek@msu.edu.

 

 

Best,

 

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu