RSVP REMINDER! Joint Network Meeting, Reception & Tours: July 13 & 14, 2016

Get your network on!

 

Join us for the second joint meeting of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network (MFIN) and the Michigan Food Hub Network. This summer, partners from Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) will host us and share emerging and innovative work at the new Bronson Healthy Living Campus. This unique event will span two days in beautiful downtown Kalamazoo, with afternoon walking tours and networking reception on July 13^th, followed by the main joint meeting on July 14^th. Attend one or all events to cultivate connections and collaboration across networks! A full agenda and more details are coming soon, but see plans for the meeting activities listed below.

 

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

•  2 pm – Walking tours of KVCC’s new Food Innovation Center and Culinary & Allied Health Building, and Bronson Hospital’s food service program
• 5 pm – Networking reception at Arcadia Ales in Downtown Kalamazoo! Tasty local treats will be served… 

 

Thursday, July 14, 2016

• The full meeting program from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm will include what’s happening in the the Kalamazoo area food system, the latest food safety news, incubator kitchens and their role in meeting demand for processed local foods, and opportunities to source and market Michigan products through Cultivate Michigan featured foods. Coffee and lunch will be provided. Registration is required.

Please follow this link to register for this two day event, or visit the CRFS Event Page for more information.

** For those who require overnight lodging: there is a block of rooms reserved at the Kalamazoo Radisson. Use the group name “MSU Network Meeting” when you make your reservation. (Discounted rate is $140/ night) Several other options are available in downtown Kalamazoo including a Comfort Inn.

We hope to see you there!

The Planning Committee,

Colleen Matts – MFIN, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

Lindsey Scalera — MFIN, Ecology Center

Noel Bielaczyc — MI Food Hub Network, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

Rich Pirog — MI Food Hub Network, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

Marty Gerencer — MI Food Hub Network, Morse Marketing Connections, LLC

Rachel Chadderdon Bair — KVCC Food Innovation Center

Mariel Borgman — MSU Extension

Corrected Link: Farmer Interview Guide

Hi all –

 

Apologies to those of you that clicked on the link to the Farmer Conversation Guide out of South Carolina Farm to Preschool. The corrected link is below:

 

http://scfarmtoinstitution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/F2PSFarmerConversationGuide.pdf

 

Best, and happy Monday!

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

FW: Registration is now open for Together at the Farm featuring keynote speaker Eliot Coleman

There is a track at this conference that qualifies for 5 SCECH credits – morning session Cultivating Healthy Soil, Gardens and People with Compost and afternoon session Sustaining a School Garden Program

 

Thank you to those of you that have supported and participated in the U.P. Food Exchange’s Together at the Table Local Food Summits that occur annually in the fall.  As a result of input from many of you, asking for a more traditional conference format and wanting breakout sessions with hands on learning opportunities, we decided last fall to host a U.P. wide local food conference.  We never envisioned that it would grow into such a premier event but sometimes when you dream big you surprise even yourself.  Securing an internationally known keynote speaker has this conference in high demand! 

 

The registration is now live for the Together at the Farm: U.P. Local Food Conference on July 30^th.  The event at the MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center is hosted by the U.P. Food Exchange, MSU Extension, Marquette Food Co-op and the Western U.P. Health Department.

 

We are beyond excited to have the rare opportunity of having Eliot Coleman be our keynote speaker.  He will speak the morning of the conference as well as at the dinner (The conference and the dinner are two separate ticketed events).

 

There are a variety of breakout sessions presented by well-known local and regional speakers that provide an opportunity for everyone to find something of interest. 

 

The conference qualifies for MAEAP phase one credits and SCECH credits have been applied for.

 

Below are the links for the event page and the registration link. The overall schedule and session descriptions can be found on the event page.  Conference registration is limited so don’t wait to register.

 

Conference event page: http://upfoodexchange.com/events/together-at-the-farm/

Conference registration link: http://events.anr.msu.edu/TATF/

 

 

Michelle Walk

Extension Educator

Community Food Systems & Tourism

 

Michigan State University Extension

319 Court Street

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783

 

Office: (906) 635-6368

Cell: (906) 440-4732

Fax: (906) 635-7610

Email: walkmich@msu.edu

 

Check us out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/msueup

 

MSUE news and events: http://msue.msu.edu

 

Receive the latest news from MSU Extension in your inbox.

 

 

MI Farm to School News

Happy Friday!

 

This week has been especially exciting here at Michigan Farm to School. Earlier this week, we joined food service directors from across the state at the annual School Nutrition Programs conference in Lansing. Colleen, myself, and our fabulous colleagues from the Michigan Department of Education and Michigan Fitness Foundation kicked off the week as team "Lettuce Turnip the Beet" and highlighted the incredible impact that could come from combining programs that aim to increase good food access for children. I was so excited to see the number of hands that went up representing those involved in Farm to School in Michigan – you all are such an inspiration!

 

As Farm to Summer kicks off in these coming weeks, its exciting to see the number of programs aiming to make connections with local food. Summer is a perfect time to start building connections with local farmers and take advantage of the height of Michigan Farm to Summer. How are you bringing Farm to Summer to your Meet Up and Eat Up program? Be sure to celebrate by sharing on Facebook or Twitter. If you're new to it, check out our recent Farm to Summer Webinar, highlighting some of the awesome work around the state and providing ideas for getting started.

 

Here's updates from the past two weeks:

 

News

 

·         Detroit Public Schools launches Friday farmers markets at two schools – The Detroit News

o    DPS' Office of School Nutrition and Eastern Market are joining forces to bring small farmers markets selling fresh produce that sell produce grown by the students at the schools

·         CDC reports increase in teen obesity – Journal of the American Medical Association

o    An investigation into obesity trends showed an increase in obesity in adolescents aged 12-19 years. What can we do to address this?

·         As more gardens sprout, schools find new way to reach students – Boston Globe

o    Highlighting school garden successes in Massachusetts

 

Opportunities

 

·         Garden Grants:

o    The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation provides fruit trees to establish an orchard at a school through their Fruit Tree 101 program

o    The Herb Society of America  provides grants of $200 for seed money to establish an herb garden

o    Home Depot Community Impact Grants offer up to $5000 in gift cards to Home Depot that could be used for school gardens

 

Resources

 

·         What's on your plate this summer?

o    Discover the secret sauce here! This new website from School Food Focus provides tools to help shift school food purchasing and connect folks to increase local purchasing.

·         Farmer Conversation Guide – South Carolina Farm to Preschool

o    Simple and straightforward tool for guiding conversations with farmers that you're interested in sourcing from.

·         2015 USDA Farm to School Census: Raw Data Released – United States Department of Agriculture

o    Explore all the findings from the 2015 Farm to School Survey

·         Oregon Farm to School Counts

o    The new website features finding on the impacts of Farm to School in Oregon. Spoiler alert: It's really fun to navigate.

 

 

I hope you all have fabulous weekend plans! I'll be doing rain dances while I spent the entire weekend watering my garden.

 

Best,

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

What's your definition of local?

Last call! What's your definition of local? 

 

If you are part of food service at an institution and haven't already completed the linked questionnaire, please tell us what you think! If you know someone in food service, pass this on! We're taking responses through Friday, June 17.​

 

The Michigan Farm to Institution Network wants to learn more about how Michigan institutions define "local" when it comes to food. If you're a food buyer or make food purchasing decisions at an institution serving food, click the link and answer a couple of questions to tell us  your definition for local food! 

 

http://msucarrs.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cHkautgIS3P9Ifb

 ​

Cultivate Michigan is a campaign of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network, and is co-coordinated by the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and the Ecology Center, with support from MSU Extension. We work toward the Michigan Good Food Charter goal that Michigan institutions source 20% of their food from Michigan sources by the year 2020. For more information, go to www.cultivatemichigan.org.​​​​​​​

 

 

Megan Thompson

Farm to Institution Data Manager

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Road – Rm 309 Natural Resources Building – East Lansing, MI, 48824

thom1306@anr.msu.edu

517-432-0307

 

MI Farm to School News

Greetings Network!

Happy last day of school! It has been a few weeks since I've gotten an update out to you all, so this one is chock full! 

Last week, we had the privilege of attending the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. It was four jam packed days of networking, learning, and eating delicious food (they purchased a couple of whole hogs and cows for the week!). In addition to leading a few sessions of our own, it was a chance to learn about all the innovations across the country and come together to celebrate all the progress we've made in the last few years! The keynote speakers were especially excellent, and I encourage you all to check out the National Farm to School Network Facebook page to see some of the highlights.

Colleen and I got up close and personal with a chicken as well.

Lots of other exciting news as well – I encourage you to watch the awesome video on one of our Farm to School Grantees, Nathan Bates at Boyne Falls, linked to below. It is truly inspiring (and delicious looking!). Also, be sure to check out the Minneapolis Public Schools Toolkit (in resources below) which is an amazing example of some great farm to school work in our Great Lakes neighbor state.

Requests!

• Cultivate Michigan is seeking institutional recipes for the Summer 2016 Featured Food: CARROTS! Recipes should be institutional in size and sent to zieglerg@anr.msu.edu
• Cultivate Michigan also wants to know how you define local when it comes to food. If you're a food buyer or make food purchasing decisions at an institution, help us out by completing this quick survey

News

• Featured Video: Chef Nate – Petoskey News
  • This is an awesome spotlight on one of our farm to school grantees and their local purchasing strategies in Northern Michigan
• Schools across America honored for their "One in a Melon" farm to school programs - USDA Office of Community Food Systems
  • Congratulations to Michigan's one-in-a-melon winner, Montague Area Public Schools! They're the top school district awarded by the USDA for their innovative work in farm to school.
• Advocates say new law could mean no minimum wage for some farmworkers – WMUK
  • Michigan's 2014 minimum wage law may not guarantee minimum wage for farmworkers being paid by piece-rate on large farms.
  Try asparagus guacamole, butternut squash salsa at Farm to School Kickoff – Mlive
  • Check out the early stages of farm to school in Muskegon County, which received a USDA Farm to School Implementation Grant.
• Ten cents a meal for school kids and farms – MSU Extension
  • Highlighting the pilot project in Northwest Michigan that will aim to provide funding for schools utilizing local foods
• School gardens in summer – MSU Extension
  • Tips for keeping your school garden going when school is not in session

Resources

• MPS Farm to School Toolkit – Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Minneapolis has been doing incredible farm to school work. This toolkit shares their tools, resources, and documents that have been used along the way.
• USDA announces effort to strengthen nutrition among young children to create healthy habits early – USDA
  • The Child and Adult Care Food Program meal patterns were recently updated, and they set farm to school as a best practice! Learn more about the standards here.

Opportunities

• National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant - Applications close June 30, 2016
  • Memo attached! Think about what equipment might aid you in purchasing more local food!
• Job Opportunity: North Carolina Farm two Childcare Program Coordinator – North Carolina
  • The position will plan, design, conduct, and evaluate elements of the Farm to Childcare initiative.

Happy start to summer! Stay cool this weekend, Ganders!

Best,

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

Job Posting: Full-time Farm to School Position in Traverse City!

Apologies for cross-posting- Are you passionate about healthy food, farms, and kids? The Traverse Bay Intermediate School District is hiring a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA position working on farm to school initiatives and activities in partnership with MSU Extension and the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in Traverse City, MI.

The position is aimed at helping local schools teach the importance of eating healthy foods and living a healthy lifestyle. The goal is to support and encourage teachers by providing them with classroom tools that use cooking, gardening, nutrition, and farming as a lens through which to have a deeper and richer learning experience. It's a great job for those that love food, kids, education, local farming, and community enrichment. 

A strong applicant should be a great communicator, and able to work well both collaboratively and independently with varying amounts of given structure. The VISTA will also be in charge of maintaining and updating a website as needed with new content and material. Projects may integrate cooking demonstrations in partnership with local chefs using video production or finding unique and engaging ways to circulate local farm to school news and resources. There is a lot of space and opportunities to brainstorm and initiate other projects that demonstrate the value of farm to school to community stakeholders.

Applications for the position can be accessed here. The deadline to apply is June 10th. 

If you have any questions, please contact Amber Karr-Kennedy (amber@unitedwaynwmi.org) or Meghan McDermott (meghan@groundworkcenter.org). 

Thanks, 

Meghan

--

Meghan McDermott | Policy Specialist

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

E   meghan@groundworkcenter.org

P   231-941-6584 x718

W  groundworkcenter.org

F   Groundwork Center

T   @grndwk

A  148 E Front St, Suite 301  |  Traverse City, MI 49684

Service Site Supervisor for FoodCorps. FoodCorps Traverse City Blog

Food Access Task Force Leader for Northwest Michigan Food & Farming Network

Groundwork Center Fellowship Program Coordinator

Member Cultivate Michigan; Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan

Join us at localdifference.org & Farm to School Northwest Michigan & farmtoschool.tbaisd.org

SAVE-THE-DATE! Joint Network Meeting, Reception & Tours: July 13 & 14, 2016

Get your network on!

 

Join us for the second joint meeting of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network (MFIN) and the Michigan Food Hub Network. This summer, partners from Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) will host us and share emerging and innovative work at the new Bronson Healthy Living Campus. This unique event will span two days in beautiful downtown Kalamazoo, with afternoon walking tours and networking reception on July 13^th, followed by the main joint meeting on July 14^th. Attend one or all events to cultivate connections and collaboration across networks! A full agenda and more details are coming soon, but see plans for the meeting activities listed below.

 

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

•  2 pm – Walking tours of KVCC’s new Food Innovation Center and Culinary & Allied Health Building, and Bronson Hospital’s food service program
• 5 pm – Networking reception with food and brews… Location in Downtown Kalamazoo TBD

 

Thursday, July 14, 2016

• The full meeting program from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm will include what’s happening in the the Kalamazoo area food system, the latest food safety news, incubator kitchens and their role in meeting demand for processed local foods, and opportunities to source and market Michigan products through Cultivate Michigan featured foods. Coffee and lunch will be provided. Registration is required.

Please follow this link to register for this two day event. Hope to see you there!

The Planning Committee,

Colleen Matts – MFIN

Lindsey Scalera — MFIN

Noel Bielaczyc — MI Food Hub Network

Rich Pirog — MI Food Hub Network

Marty Gerencer — MI Food Hub Network

Rachel Chadderdon Bair — KVCC Food Innovation Center

Mariel Borgman — MSU Extension

Call for Recipes: Carrots!

Cultivate Michigan needs YOUR input! 

The 2016 Spring Featured Food is CARROTS, and we need a few more institutional recipes to share with other Michigan institutions. We are seeking recipes that feature carrots in main dishes, sides, deserts, what have you. Recipes should be institutional in scale (serving at least 50 portions) and may be featured in our upcoming product guide for Cultivate Michigan, which is accessed by food service directors in all types of institutions throughout the state.

Help us get more Michigan grown carrots on the menu! Please send recipes to Garrett Ziegler at zieglerg@anr.msu.edu.

Cultivate Michigan works toward the  Michigan Good Food Charter goal that Michigan institutions source 20% of their food from Michigan sources by the year 2020. Join Now to track your progress and be a part of the network! 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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