2016-2017 MI Farm to School Grantees

MI Farm to School awards funds to support 26 grantees with local purchasing efforts in K-12 schools/districts and early childhood programs

 

The MI Farm to School Grant Program is a competitive statewide grant program that provides funds to K-12 schools/districts and early childhood programs serving vulnerable children to plan for and implement local food purchasing. The 2016-2017 grant year will be its 7^th in operation, and adds to the previous nearly $160,000 that has been granted by the program MI Farm to School Grant Program to support local food purchasing throughout the state.

 

In the 2016-2017 grant year, 12 K-12 schools/districts and 14 early childhood programs will help support nearly 24,000 children in accessing fresh, local food through farm to school programs. Grantees are spread throughout 13 counties and include both rural and urban K-12 districts, charter schools, family day care homes, Head Start and Great Start Readiness programs, child care centers, and a residential child care institute.

 

While the end goal of each program is to increase its purchasing of local food, each grantee is going about it in a uniquely different way. Their efforts showcase the breadth and diversity of farm to school programming and highlight some really innovative approaches. Among other objectives, grantees this year are aiming to:

·         Develop and strengthen relationships with local growers

·         Increase local milk purchasing

·         Increase sourcing of locally raised proteins

·         Host farm to school events such as the Michigan Apple Crunch, Cultivate Michigan featured food days, Farm to School Month, and other celebrations of local food

·         Engage new community partners to build strong farm to school teams

·         Increase storage capacity for locally grown foods

·         Train staff in seasonal menu development and fresh food preparation

 

For the full list of MI Farm to School grantees, please visit: http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/mi_farm_to_school_grantees.

 

For more information on the MI Farm to School Grant Program, to sign up for the listserv, or to learn more about our regional farm to school trainings this fall, visit www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu or email harperab@msu.edu.

 

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