Reminder: MI Farm to School Trainings

Greetings all!

 

We are just less than a month away from our annual Farm to School Trainings! These trainings will be an opportunity to deepen your knowledge on farm to school and local purchasing strategies for K-12 school and early childhood programs and connect with others working to increase the amount of Michigan grown food available in school meals!

 

Trainings will include:

 

•         An overview of Farm to School

•         Digging deep into USDA rules and regulations around local purchasing,

•         Creating seasonal menus and utilizing local produce,

•         Opportunities to share innovative practices from across the region.

 

More information is available on the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems website. Trainings are free to attend, however registration is required.

 

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

MI Farm to School News

Happy Friday!

 

It's almost the start of a new school year, and with it comes many opportunities for supporting your farm to school efforts -  including our Regional Farm to School Trainings! Register for one of three trainings in Detroit, Boyne Falls, and Grand Rapids to start your school year off planning for, implementing, or expanding your local purchasing efforts!

 

The Apple Crunch registration is also open, so start thinking about how to celebrate your Crunch, and help us reach 1,000,000 million regional crunchers!

 

News

 

·         USDA Farm to School Grants reach over 10 million students – USDA Food and Nutrition Service

o    Summary of the impacts of the first four years of the USDA Farm to School Grant Program Stay tuned for the 2017 Request for Applications, coming in September!

·         What's your summer story? – USDA FNS

o    The Office of Community Food Systems is collecting stories of Farm to Summer programs to highlight in their E-letter! Share your Farm to Summer story by sending it to Danielle.fleury@fns.usda.gov

 

Opportunities

 

·         2016 Michigan Apple Crunch – October 13, 2016

o    It's time to start planning for your annual Michigan Apple Crunch! Decide on a time, find your apples, and CRUNCH! Register at miapplecrunch.com and follow on facebook for inspiration and new ideas.

·         Regional Farm to School Trainings – October 20 – 27, 2016

o    Register for one of three trainings hosted in Boyne Falls, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. Trainings will be an opportunity to identify concrete and practical steps for increasing local purchasing in K-12 schools and early childhood programs.

·         Making MI Recipes Work: A Culinary Training for School Nutrition Professionals – October

o    This series of hands-on trainings will help school nutrition professionals better utilize Michigan farm fresh produce. Register now

·         Cherry Capital Foods 2016 Food Show – September 28, Detroit, MI

o    This will be a space for you to connect with the vendors who grow and make the Michigan foods Cherry Capital offers.

·         Workshop: Accessing the Best Possible New Owner for your Business: Worker Ownership for Success (see attached) – September 28, Grand Rapids, MI

o    This one-day workshop will provide information for those interested in developing worker owned cooperatives or converting to employee ownership.

·         Webinar: Transforming School Food by Green Teacher – September 27, 7:30 – 8:30 pm

o    Presenters will share different approaches to transforming school food – California Tuesdays and Slow Cookers for Kids projects.

 

Enjoy your last August weekend – I'll be celebrating summer by gorging on peaches and blueberries.

 

Thanks for all you do to get good food to Michigan children!

 

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

CORRECTION: Registration Now Open: MI Farm to School Trainings

Registration is now open for the 2016 Regional MI Farm to School Trainings!

 

Coordinated annually by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, these trainings are an opportunity to identify concrete and practical steps for moving your program forward and network with other innovators working to increase local food purchasing in K-12 schools and early childhood programs. Whether you are brand new to farm to school or a seasoned expert, working in early childhood or K-12, attend one of these training opportunities to increase your knowledge of farm to school activities and gain new skills for beginning or expanding your farm to school programs.

 

Topics in this year's training include:

-          Bright and innovative ideas from throughout the state

-          Strategies for successfully procuring local foods according to USDA Rules and Regulations

-          Seasonal menu planning for Michigan products

-          Team development for sustainable farm to school programs

 

Trainings will be led by Abby Harper and Colleen Matts of the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems. Regional training dates, locations, and confirmed speakers are below. More details and additional speakers will be forthcoming.

·         September 20, 2016 11:00 – 4:00 (lunch included) – Boyne Falls Public Schools, Boyne Falls

o   Additional speakers: Nathan Bates, Food Service Director at Boyne Falls Public Schools, and Diane Conners, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

·         September 22, 2016 12:30 – 4:30 (snack included) – Baxter Community Center, Grand Rapids

o   Additional speakers: Mariel Borgman, MSU Extension Community Food Systems Educator, and Becky Kwasteniet, Food Program Manager at Baxter Child Development Center

·         September 27, 2016 10:30 – 3:30 (lunch included) – Drew Transition Center, Detroit

o   Additional speakers: Kaitlin Wojciak, MSU Extension Community Food Systems Educator

 

Trainings are free to attend, but registration is required. Register at http://msucarrs.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9Lbw3J4Olz1fB1H. If you have any questions, please email harperab@msu.edu.

 

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

FW: Registration Now Open: MI Farm to School Trainings

Please let me know if you have any suggested edits! Hoping to send this first thing Monday morning.

 

Registration is now open for the 2016 Regional MI Farm to School Trainings!

 

Coordinated annually by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, these trainings are an opportunity to identify concrete and practical steps for moving your program forward and network with other innovators working to increase local food purchasing in K-12 schools and early childhood programs. Whether you are brand new to farm to school or a seasoned expert, working in early childhood or K-12, attend one of these training opportunities to increase your knowledge of farm to school activities and gain new skills for beginning or expanding your farm to school programs.

 

Topics in this year's training include:

-          Bright and innovative ideas from throughout the state

-          Strategies for successfully procuring local foods according to USDA Rules and Regulations

-          Seasonal menu planning for Michigan products

-          Team development for sustainable farm to school programs

 

Trainings will be led by Abby Harper and Colleen Matts of the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems. Regional training dates, locations, and confirmed speakers are below. More details and additional speakers will be forthcoming.

·         September 20, 2016 11:00 – 4:00 (lunch included) – Boyne Falls Public Schools, Boyne Falls

o   Additional speakers: Nathan Bates, Food Service Director at Boyne Falls Public Schools, and Diane Conners, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

·         September 22, 2016 12:30 – 4:30 (snack included) – Baxter Community Center, Grand Rapids

o   Additional speakers: Mariel Borgman, MSU Extension Community Food Systems Educator, and Becky Kwasteniet, Food Program Manager at Baxter Child Development Center

·         September 27, 2016 10:30 – 3:30 (lunch included) – Drew Transition Center, Detroit

o   Additional speakers: Kaitlin Wojciak, MSU Extension Community Food Systems Educator

 

Trainings are free to attend, but registration is required. Register at http://msucarrs.az1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_9Lbw3J4Olz1fB1H. If you have any questions, please email harperab@msu.edu.

 

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

MI Farm to School News

Happy Friday!

 

Lots of opportunities coming up with the start of the school year. Make sure to keep your eye out for the MI Farm to School regional trainings coming out next week, and sign your school/early childhood program/organization up for the Michigan Apple Crunch! I saw the first apples of the season this week at the farmers market – a little daunting how quickly summer is passing, but good to start practicing that CRUNCH.

 

News

·         Getting it There: The role of New England food distributors in providing local food to institutions – Farm to Institution New England (FINE)

o    This report out of FINE presents findings and makes recommendations for food distributors, government, officials, funders, and institutions in how they can help move regional farm to institution work forward. Highly worth the read!

·         USDA Announces Additional Efforts to Make School Environments Healthier – USDA FNS

o    Four final rules were added to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) to ensure kids have access to healthy snacks and better nutrition. There's an emphasis on more fresh fruits and vegetables, and requires engaging more parents, students and community members in developing school wellness policies – a great place to encourage farm to school activities!

 

Opportunities

·         Michigan Agritourism Association and Michigan Farmers Market Association announce farm-based educational field days – MIFMA

o    The first in this series is coming up Monday, and focuses on season extension for farmers, which can be a great tool for those looking to sell more to schools and early childhood programs.

·         Save the Date: MI Farm to School Regional Trainings – September, 2016

o    Registration information along with speakers and agenda items will be sent out Monday. These trainings are open to the public and free to attend, and will be a great space to learn how to begin or expand your local purchasing efforts.

§  September 20 11:00 – 4:00 – Boyne Falls Public Schools, Boyne Falls

§  September 22 12:30 – 4:30 – Baxter Community Center, Grand Rapids

§  September 27 10:30 – 3:30 – Drew Farms, Detroit

·         Michigan Apple Crunch – October 13, 2016

o    On October 13, everyone is encouraged to CRUNCH into a Michigan grown apple, creating an echo heard state and nation wide! Register and follow on facebook for more information and to receive tools to aid in planning a successful event. Along with the other Great Lakes states, we're going for one million crunches!

·         Making MI Recipes Work: A Culinary Training for School Nutrition Professionals

o    Registration is now open for this series of hands-on trainings to help school nutrition professionals better utilize Michigan farm fresh produce. See attached flyers for more details about locations and dates of all training and contact mborgm@anr.msu.edu or kaitwoj@anr.msu.edu with any questions.

 

Resources

·         Community Food Systems Farm to School Fact Sheets – USDA FNS

o    The Community Food Systems team has updated their fact sheets on farm to school

 

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