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Friday, June 30, 2017

MI Farm to School News - Fourth of July Edition!

Hello!

Happy almost holiday weekend! I hope you all have lots of great plans for rest and relaxation and eating all the goodies Michigan has to offer this year – I spent the afternoon gorging on the first of my green beans! This edition of the MI Farm to School News is the last one you will receive from me, as I will be starting as the Community Food Systems Educator for District 8 with MSU Extension. From this point forward, Colleen Matts and Lee Ann Viera will be in charge of getting you the most up to date on farm to school in Michigan and beyond. I have so thoroughly enjoyed filling this role and will miss the opportunity to wax poetic about peas to our 1000+ subscribers, but know you all will be in good hands!

Thanks to all of you for your hard work, dedication, and leadership in this work. You are making a difference!

June 20 2017; 11:00 am ET

Learn how local procurement can fit into the CACFP program and help meet new CACFP requirements coming into effect this fall and what on-farm food safety practices Early Care staff should look for when deciding which farmers to purchase from.


Trending Topics in Farm to School: Farm to School Partnerships with Your School Nutrition Association

July 6, 2017 - 2:00-3:00pm ET

Join the National Farm to School Network to learn about partnering with your School Nutrition Association to expand your farm to school efforts. Register now


Closing the Hunger Gap: Moving the Hunger Relief System from Charity to Social Justice

September 11th-13th // Tacoma, WA

This conference will introduce you to new ideas, people, and strategies dismantling racial and economic disparities in our food system. 


School Gardens Survey

Students at Lehman College, CUNY are interested in learning from your challenges to implementing and sustaining school gardens. Take part in their research survey here


News

Groundwork Expands Food and Farming Work to Petoskey Region

Mynorth News Service

Exciting news from our northern partners! Groundwork's new Petoskey office will expand their farm to school, food access and farmer support projects to Antrim, Charlevoix, and Emmet counties.


2017-2018 MI Farm to School Grantees Announced!

2017-2018 is the last year of the MI Farm to School Grant Program. Check out this year's grantees


Opportunities 
Due July 21, 2017
Voices for Healthy Kids is focusing on increasing public policy impact on healthy weight and living among children through efforts in schools, community, and  early care and education. Applications should support at least one Voices for Healthy Kids Policy Lever.

Job
Due July 21, 2017 
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is seeking an annual full-time Academic Specialist to lead efforts promoting good food access and awareness in early child care and education environments (ECE) and K-12 schools. Apply Now

All the 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

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Academic Specialist position #446354 available at MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

Please see below for information regarding an Academic Specialist position (posting #446354) available at MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.

 

 

Position Description

Early and School Food Academic Specialist – Position # 446354

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

 

 

The Michigan State University (MSU) Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) is seeking an annual full-time Academic Specialist to lead efforts promoting good food access and awareness in early child care and education environments (ECE) and K-12 schools. The Academic Specialist will be responsible for creating and implementing the roadmap for CRFS' outreach and research efforts in this arena at both the national level and in Michigan, identifying and responding to gaps in engagement, knowledge and practice through:

 

-                 Cultivation of collaborations and partner networks;

-                 Leadership of survey research and other data collection and analysis;

-                 Provision of training and technical assistance; and

-                 Development and dissemination of resources, materials and presentations.

 

This is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated, resourceful and committed candidate to bring creative vision to an existing foundation of relationships and learnings to accelerate, shape and support farm to school and ECE efforts.

 

Position expectations:

 

-                 Convene and/or collaborate with national and statewide project partners virtually and in person;

-                 Develop papers, resources and other creative forms of scholarship in a timely fashion for diverse audiences, including academics, practitioners, stakeholders, and the general public. Publication examples include reports, fact sheets, guides, videos, webinars, and journal articles

-                 Present on outreach, research and/or education projects and findings at national, state and local-level conferences, meetings, and other venues, including scholarly, government, association and community audiences;

-                 Develop and submit grant proposals, including collaborative projects with CRFS colleagues and/or external partners, and manage projects, personnel and/or budgets to fulfill project objectives; develop evaluation plans and tools, and write grant reports for grants awarded;

-                 Responsible to project principle directors on grant deliverables as funding requires;

-                 Engage with relevant networks led by CRFS and/or partners and appropriate professional organizations;

-                 Document and share project work and accomplishments; maintain regular internal and external communication about project activities; develop and report on an annual plan of work;

-                 Actively participate in CRFS staff and strategic meetings and stay current on CRFS projects, activities, resources and publications;

-                 Represent projects and CRFS in a professional manner in all forms of engagement and communication; and

-                 Help to foster, facilitate and maintain the CRFS culture of anti-racism, trust, support and accountability.

 

Status: This is a full-time, annual year, temporary position. Initial appointment will be for one year with reappointment contingent upon funding and performance.

 

Available:  August 1, 2017 or until a suitable candidate is identified.

 

Application Deadline: July 21, 2017 or until a suitable candidate is identified.

 

Starting Salary: Commensurate with education and experience up to $60,000 annually.

  

Reporting: Individual reports to Director, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.

 

Qualifications: 

 

  1. Master's degree required in early childhood education, child development, food systems, public health, public policy, nutrition, or related field.
  2. At least two years of experience with early child care and K-12 food programs, education issues, and child environments strongly preferred.
  3. Demonstrated project leadership and management, with two years of experience or more preferred.
  4. Demonstrated resourcefulness, self-motivation and ability to problem-solve and think critically.
  5. Ability to self-direct and balance multiple projects simultaneously and to easily shift between working independently and as part of a team.
  6. Demonstrated strong written and verbal communications skills and experience using a broad range of communications tactics.
  7. Ability to effectively and diplomatically engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholder groups (in Michigan and nationally) such as academic faculty and staff, youth and adult community members, and organizational partners and funders; experience working with multicultural and diverse populations highly desired.
  8. High degree of knowledge of and comfort with using technology in completing job requirements including Microsoft Office suite; online search, file-sharing and collaboration platforms; electronic survey software; and phone/web conferencing systems. 
  9. Available to regularly travel throughout the state and within the US, including overnight, and possession of a valid, current state driver's license.
  10. Understanding of and commitment to a culture of anti-racism and inclusivity. 

 

Application Procedure:

 

You must apply online to MSU Human Resources:

 

Go to http://careers.msu.edu look for job posting #446354 under faculty/academic staff.

 

A cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for the position, and an updated curriculum Vita or resume needs to be submitted as a part of the application process.

 

If you have questions about the position or search process, you may contact: Rich Pirog, rspirog@msu.edu.

 

Please do not send application materials directly to Rich Pirog.

 

 

 

MSU enjoys a park-like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas. The campus is located in the city of East Lansing, adjacent to the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of approximately 450,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. The University is proactive about its obligations under the ADA, and provides individual accessibility plans to students and employees with disabilities. Michigan State University is also proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for dual career families, both inside and outside the University, and respects all family forms. Information about MSU http://miwin.msu.edu/. Information about WorkLife at MSU can be found http://worklife.msu.edu/.

 

CRFS Mission: CRFS works to engage the people of Michigan, the United States and the world in applied research, education and outreach to develop regionally integrated, sustainable food systems.

 

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer and is committed to achieving excellence through cultural diversity. The university actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities. Michigan State University employment opportunities are open to eligible/qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. 

 

 

Monday, June 19, 2017

Announcement

Greetings Network!

I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the last few days of school! It has been a busy end of spring here with your MI Farm to School Team, particularly in trying to keep up with snap pea consumption. Hope you all are enjoying the bounties this season has to offer! One thing I love about eating seasonally is I am always ready for what's next. I have spent three weeks gorging myself on snap peas and asparagus and am ready to switch to garlic scapes, green beans, and all the summer produce that shortly follows.

I'm writing with both sadness and excitement to let you know that I have recently accepted a new position and will be leaving the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems at the end of this month. I'll be transitioning into a role with the MSU Extension Greening Michigan Institute. There, I will be working to build local capacity and enhance community participation in local food and community development in District 8 (Barry, Clinton, Eaton, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, and Montcalm counties). While I am excited for this opportunity, I am sad to leave you all and the wonderful work happening at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems!

It has been a true pleasure to get to know you all and work with you over the last two years. I have learned so much in this short time – both here at the Center and from the example you all set out in the field. Your vision, passion, leadership, and innovation in bringing local foods to Michigan's children has been so rewarding and inspiring to be a part of, and I thank you all for your work! Michigan sure is setting the bar high, and I look forward to seeing where you all take it.

My position will likely be filled in early fall, but until then you can contact Colleen Matts at matts@msu.edu with any questions related to farm to school. Many of you have worked with Colleen previously, and I'm grateful to her willingness to support this throughout the transition!

Likewise, we're making every effort to avoid any bumps in the transition. If you're one of the avid readers of the MI Farm to School Newsletter, it will continue in limited form throughout the summer with Colleen and the help of Lee Ann Viera, who has been working with us for the last two years on farm to school and Hoophouses for Health and helped out with many of the previous newsletters. I am confident they will continue to provide you with the information and resources you need to keep your program going, although perhaps with marginally fewer nerdy jokes and references to cherries ;).

I will still be involved in local food in mid-Michigan, so if you reside there will look forward to opportunities to work together in the future. I hope you all enjoy your summer, and please don't hesitate to be in touch as my email will remain the same! I would love to hear from you!

In gratitude,

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

Friday, June 16, 2017

MI Farm to School News

Hello Network!

Hope y'all had a great week. Kick your weekend off with a couple of this week's news – including the release of the USDA Farm to School Awards, two of which came to Michigan. There's also a couple of exciting events, resources and a job opportunity. MSU CRFS recently released Local Food for Little Eaters, a local food purchasing resource for early childhood programs, and the National Farm to School Network created a helpful Farm to ECE roadmap.

Summer Food Programs are about to start up! Thinking about bringing local to your program? View the Farm to Summer webinar that we recorded last year and learn what steps to take! 

Also, thanks to Lee Ann Viera, who has been working with us for the last two years supporting Hoophouses for Health and Farm to School, for helping to put together this newsletter!

Resources
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

This toolbox is designed to help ECE programs purchase local food. It provides step-by-step instructions for purchasing from a variety of local food sources and provide highlights from successful ECE purchasing initiatives throughout the country.


Farm to ECE Mini Webinar Series

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

You can now watch the entire Farm to ECE Webinar Series that has been taking place over the last nine months! 


A Roadmap for Farm to ECE

National Farm to School Network

This comprehensive guide is designed to help partners from diverse sectors navigate the early care and education landscape, and better understand opportunities and leverage points for farm to ECE.

 

Events

Webinar series: Farm to Early Care 

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy – June 13-27 11:00am EST

Anyone planning their own Farm to ECE program? IATP will present their Farm to ECE training in four webinars to help programs get started.Learn more and register here.

January 21-26, 2018 in Santa Cruz, CA
Join school garden support organizations from across the nation to enhance professional development and ongoing support for school garden programs in your region. Apply by July 20 here

United States Department of Agriculture Due: end of June
Data from the Census of Agriculture guides Congress, agribusiness, policymakers, researchers, local governments and many others on creating and funding agriculture programs and services. Represent yourself, community and industry by completing this survey and make your voice count. 

News

FoodCorps Americorps Members in Flint, Michigan's Recovery From Lead Crisis

Food Corps

Food Corps members, which support farm to school efforts in schools throughout Michigan, are playing a leading role to help alleviate the effects of the water crisis in Flint. This video showcases some of their work in partnership with non-profit organizations and local citizens in Flint.


USDA Announces Farm to School Grant Awards; Projects Nationwide Chosen

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Sixty-five awardees are receiving funding from the USDA Farm to School Grant Program to increase local food purchasing in schools throughout the country. Congratulations to Michigan Department of Education and South Haven Public Schools, a current MI Farm to School Grantee, for receiving an award! We can't wait to see what you accomplish!


Laker Secondary Schools achieves gold wellness award

Huron Daily Tribune 
Congtratulations to Laker Secondary Schools for their efforts in building a healthy school environment! Laker received a USDA Farm to School Grant last year, and continues to be a leader in farm to school for Michigan.

Medium
"Michigan is home to more food policy councils than any other state or province in North America, and they are all ears when it comes to new ideas." Read Wayne Roberts experience visiting 9 different food systems projects in Michigan, including our own CRFS.

Toledo Blade
School gardens can be tricky to keep going once teachers and children are out for summer vacation. This article highlights one strategy in Ohio, where families came together to volunteer to care for their local school garden throughout summer months. When students return,  the garden will be in full bloom!

Opportunities
Job: Policy Advocate, National Family Farm Coalition
National Family Farm Coalition

NFFC is seeking an Interim Policy Advocate  to bring the concerns of member organizations to Capitol Hill, and to track family farm-related legislation. Interested parties should send cover letter, resume, salary requirements and three references to familyfarmcoalition@gmail.com at their earliest convenience.


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

Thursday, June 15, 2017

MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series Now Online

Greetings Network,

The final Farm to ECE Mini Webinar was yesterday, and we had a great presentation from Angela Lugo Thomas of Keep Growing Detroit. The webinars have all been recorded and are now available online for future viewing! You can view the recordings at http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/farm-to-ece-webinar-series. Each one is under 15 minutes, and there's a really wonderful range of speakers sharing their experience!

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

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Reminder: Engaging Families in Farm to ECE starts in five minutes!

Join us now to learn about the benefits and strategies for engaging families in Farm to ECE!

Wednesday June 14, 1:00 pm

The 12th and final webinar in the MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series is today from 1:00 - 1:20 pm. Throughout the last nine months, we've dove deep into different aspects of Farm to ECE, including strategies for local food purchasing, adapting menus to seasonality, planning curriculum and educational opportunities with children, and others. On Wednesday we will round out the series with a webinar featuring Angela Lugo–Thomas of Keep Growing Detroit (KGD). Family engagement can help support program sustainability and shift healthy eating habits at home while you're making shifts in early childhood programs. Angela will share the work of Keep Growing Detroit and they're strategies for engaging families in developing on-site gardens with early childhood programs in Detroit. Enjoy your lunch and spend a quick 15 minutes learning about KGD's great works and how you could plan to engage families and parents in your Farm to ECE work!

Hope to see you Wednesday!
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

Monday, June 12, 2017

[NEW RESOURCE] Local Food for Little Eaters: A Purchasing toolbox for the Child and Adult Care Food Program

 

 

Announcing a new early care local food purchasing resource from the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems!

 

 

The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is excited to announce the release of Local Food for Little Eaters: A Purchasing toolbox for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.

 

This toolbox is designed to help early care providers purchase local food for their programs. It gives step-by-step instructions for purchasing from a variety of local food sources. These instructions include successful strategies and examples of how early childhood programs nationwide are purchasing local food.

 

The resource also includes tools that explain how local food purchasing works with CACFP guidelines, with additional promising strategies from other programs.

 

Each of the tools in this toolbox can be used individually or together as a set. Wherever practitioners are in their journey toward offering local food, whether a brand new program or seasoned farm to ECE practitioner, these tools can help!

 

 

Questions? Contact Abigail Harper, Farm to School Specialist harperab@msu.edu | (517) 432-4525

 

 

Please help spread the word! Suggested social media posts are below. Feel free to include the image attached here.

 

FACEBOOK:

"Early childhood programs are making local food work in their meal programs! Explore how with Local Food for Little Eaters: A Purchasing Toolbox for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. http://ow.ly/IkXE30cwEgM"

 

"Local Food for Little Eaters gives step-by-step instructions for local food purchasing from a variety of sources and real world examples from across the United States. A great way to learn how to bring local food purchasing in to your early care program! http://ow.ly/IkXE30cwEgM"

 

 

TWITTER:

The Local Food for Little Eaters toolbox is designed to help #earlychildhood programs purchase #localfood. http://ow.ly/IkXE30cwEgM

 

Step-by-step instructions for #earlycare #localfood purchasing and real world examples from across the United States. http://ow.ly/IkXE30cwEgM

 

 

 

-- 

Andrea C. Sexton 

Director of Communications

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Road, Room 309 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(517) 432-0283

 

twitter.com/MSUCRFS  

Reminder: Last Webinar in MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series Wednesday 1:00 pm

Wednesday June 14, 1:00 pm

The 12th and final webinar in the MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series is this Wednesday from 1:00 - 1:20 pm. Throughout the last nine months, we've dove deep into different aspects of Farm to ECE, including strategies for local food purchasing, adapting menus to seasonality, planning curriculum and educational opportunities with children, and others. On Wednesday we will round out the series with a webinar featuring Angela Lugo–Thomas of Keep Growing Detroit (KGD). Family engagement can help support program sustainability and shift healthy eating habits at home while you're making shifts in early childhood programs. Angela will share the work of Keep Growing Detroit and they're strategies for engaging families in developing on-site gardens with early childhood programs in Detroit. Enjoy your lunch and spend a quick 15 minutes learning about KGD's great works and how you could plan to engage families and parents in your Farm to ECE work!

Hope to see you Wednesday!

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

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Minnesota Farm to Early Care Webinar Series, starts 6/13

Happy Tuesday MI Farm to School network!

I wanted to pass along this upcoming opportunity to learn more about Farm to ECE out of the amazing folks in Minnesota. See below for information on their Farm to ECE three-part webinar series!

 

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Farm to Early Care webinar series


Join us for our three-part Farm to Early Care webinar series, designed to empower anyone working in an early care and education setting to purchase fresh locally-grown foods, incorporate food- and farming-themed lessons into the classroom, and engage parents and caregivers in Farm to Early Care activities. Farm to Early Care programs are good for kids, good for farmers and good for communities. Learn more below and join us on Tuesdays in June!

 

 

Part One: Kitchen Staff Training

Tuesday, June 13 at 10:00 am CDT
This webinar will give Early Care kitchen staff the background they need on what Farm to Early Care is, how it benefits kids, farmers and communities, and the huge role kitchen staff play in making these programs successful. Learn more and register.

 

 

Part Two: Doing it Right! Best Practices for CACFP Compliance and On-Farm Food Safety Assessment

Tuesday, June 20 at 10:00 am CDT
Many of our Early Care partners are excited to start serving locally grown fruits and vegetables from farmers in their communities, but they want to make sure they are following the rules for their CACFP food program and best practices to make sure the food is as safe as possible for the kids in their program. Learn more and register.

 

 

Part Three: Teaching Staff Training

Tuesday, June 27, 10:00 am CDT
This webinar will give Early Care teaching staff the background they need on what Farm to Early Care is, how it benefits kids, farmers and communities, and how experiential Farm to Early Care activities can fit easily into their regular classroom routines. Learn more and register.

 

 

Based in Minneapolis with offices in Washington, D.C. and Berlin, Germany, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy connects the dots of global justice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems.

 

 

Copyright © 2017 Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this e-mail because you indicated an interest in learning more about the Minnesota Farm to Early Care Coalition.

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Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

2105 First Avenue South

Minneapolis, Mn 55404


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