New report - The MI Farm to School Grant Program: The First Three Years

Farm to school is considered a win-win-win for kids, farmers, and communities. The story of the MI Farm to School Grant Program, established in 2011 and continuing today, is now available in one comprehensive report from the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.

 

Read how MI Farm to School Grant Program has helped food program providers overcome challenges and stimulate or sustain local food purchasing programs at K-12 schools and early childhood programs in Michigan.

 

The report, The MI Farm to School Grant Program: The First Three Years, includes:

• why the program was started;
• a summary of the program, including operations and impacts from 2011-2014;
• reflection on the sustainability of the sponsored farm to school activities;
• learnings from the process of administering the program;
• suggestions for adapting the program as a model for other communities, states or regions.

 

This report is part of a suite of farm to school resources available from MSU Center for Regional Food Systems at www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu, including the most recently released step-by-step guides: Farm to Early Childhood Programs: A Step-By-Step Guide and Garden to Cafeteria: A Step-By-Step Guide.

 

The MI Farm to School Grant Program is administered by MSU Center for Regional Food Systems. It is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as part of broader Michigan Farm to School efforts including Hoophouses for Health, a partnership with the Michigan Farmers Market Association and the MSU Department of Horticulture.

 

If you'd like to help share the MI Farm to School Grant Program story, here are some ideas for social media posts:

 

For Facebook:

• In its first 3 years, the MI #farmtoschool Grant Program provided $91,000 to 49 programs, serving 40,000+ vulnerable children. @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGK

• About one third of #farmtoschool total grant dollars used to purchase #localfoods from 2011-2014. This means $30,000+ was invested back into local communities and the Michigan economy. @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGKAccording to @MSUCRFS report "MI #farmtoschool Grant Program: The first three years," the three most frequently reported categories of grant spending were purchasing #localfood, buying equipment, and making connections with local farmers. http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGK
• The MI #farmtoschool grant program is seeing schools and farmers develop strong relationships with signs of trust, commitment, and long-term viability. @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGK

 

For Twitter:

• Top 3 MI #farmtoschool grant spending categories: #localfood, equipment, and connecting w/ local farmers @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGK
• From 2011-14, MI #farmtoschool Grant Program provided $91k to 49 programs, serving 40k+ vulnerable children @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrG  
• From 2011-14, 1/3 of #farmtoschool grant $ was used to buy #localfoods, meaning $30k+ invested back into MI @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGK 
• MI #farmtoschool grant program is showing strong school & farmer relationships creating long-term viability @MSUCRFS http://ow.ly/bjDn300nrGK 

 

 

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The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems engages the people of Michigan, the United States, and the world in applied research, education, and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems.

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 302B Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

www.foodsystems.msu.edu | www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu