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Friday, March 29, 2019

(10 Cents a Meal) FW: Michigan Department of Education Press Release

Greetings,

Please see the just released press release from the Michigan Department of Education regarding the new legislative report on the 10 Cens a Meal for School Kids & Farms program!

Best,
Diane Conners
Senior Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

 

 

MDE Logo     News Release

 

 
Contact:    Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395
                  Bill DiSessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649

 

A Lot of Dimes: Michigan 10 Cents a Meal Now 
Providing Fruits, Vegetables to 135K Children 
 

143 Farms in 38 Counties Participating

 
March 29, 2019
 

 

LANSING – Michigan's nationally-recognized 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms program is filling 135,000 young bodies across the state with a cornucopia of nutritious produce and building relationships with local farmers.

Fifty-seven grant-winning school districts purchased 93 different fruits and vegetables grown by 143 farms in 38 Michigan counties so far this year under the program. The districts span the western Lower Peninsula and the state's Washtenaw and Thumb regions.

Providing these schools up to 10 cents a meal in matching funds to purchase locally-grown fruits and vegetables, the successful farm-to-school cafeteria program has more than doubled the number of children served since 2016.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) recently released the pilot program's latest results to the state Legislature in a mid-year report. Now in its third year, the program consistently has shown increases in the numbers of nutritious products served to students and of participating farms.

"Michigan recognizes food as an education issue and when we all meet the needs of the whole child, serving healthy food to our children, we all contribute to Michigan becoming a Top 10 education state in 10 years," Interim State Superintendent Sheila Alles said.

"Students are taking more fresh apples this school year and more importantly they aren't throwing them away once they leave the register," Jessica Moody, Food Service Director for Mancelona Public Schools, stated in the report. "The switch to all local apples, which taste better, have made a huge difference."

Of the 93 products purchased under the program, food service directors cited 67 new Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables that they tried for the first time with their students, according to preliminary results of monthly surveys conducted by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems.

Program records, examined by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, showed that besides farms, food processors, distributors, food hubs, and other types of businesses also benefit from the program supply chain.

School food service directors said the 10 Cents program's top benefits are the increase in variety of produce served to students, followed by directors' greater certainty in planning of produce purchases. 

"Our distributors know we are committed to local farmers and 10 Cents has made them better at sourcing and identifying the source," one food service director said in the monthly surveys. "I describe it as a 'win, win, win' situation," said another. "The farmers are happy, my food service budget is happy, and the students are happy."

The report includes data from taste tests and surveys of students; quotes from farmers, food service directors, and other school officials; and "ideas in action" at 10 Cents grantee districts. In all, schools listed 588 different promotional or educational activities they'd implemented through December of the 2018–2019 school year, including taste tests, Harvest of the Month features, and nutrition education in the cafeteria and classroom.

The full 2018–2019 legislative report is available here: https://bit.ly/2CIzB4b

 

 
# # #
 
 

Program contacts:

Diane Golzynski, PhD, RDN
Director, Office of Health and Nutrition Services
State Child Nutrition Director
Michigan Department of Education
517-241-5362   GolzynskiD@michigan.gov

Colleen Matts
Farm to Institution Specialist 
Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University
517-432-0310 matts@MSU.EDU

Diane Conners 
Senior Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
231-499-3937  diane@groundworkcenter.org

 


This email was sent to golzynskid@michigan.gov using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Department of Education · 608 W. Allegan Street, P.O. Box 30008 · Lansing, MI 48909

Thursday, March 21, 2019

10 Cents a Meal 2018-2019 Legislative Report is Released

Greetings,

The Michigan Department of Education's new 2018-2019 Legislative Report about the state's 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms program was released to the legislature today.

The report is available for download at www.tencentsmichigan.org on the home page, About page, and Tools for Communities page. 

Many legislators will be home on spring break with coffee hours scheduled over the next two weeks, and the legislative report is a good hand-out if you want to educate policymakers about the program and the impact it is having as they consider whether to continue, fund, and possibly expand the program during this year's budget process.

To see the nearly 450 individuals and organizations that have signed on as supporters of 10 Cents a Meal — or to sign up if you haven't — you can also click here.

Best,
Diane



*Please note my email address has changed to diane@groundworkcenter.org
__________________________

Diane Conners  |  Senior Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P   231-499-3937

T   @grndwk

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

Friday, March 15, 2019

REGISTER! Cultivate Michigan Marketplace - Mar 26 in Bangor, MI

Greetings,

This is a reminder that the registration deadline for the upcoming Cultivate Michigan Marketplace in Bangor on March 26th is approaching soon! Please find event details below in both Spanish and English, including links to register by March 19th.

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Core Partner, 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

 

 

 

Acompaña a lideres de Granja a Institución para un evento al estilo conoce al cliente, este 26 de Marzo 2019 en Bangor, MI. Este evento de redes provee una oportunidad para proveedores locales, regionales e instituciones del servicio de comida para conectarse sobre comida local.

 

Quien debería participar?

  • Compradores Institucionales de servicio de comida interesados en adquirir productos de comida locales de granjeros y vendedores de la región.
  • Proveedores de comida interesados en vender productos locales a compradores institucionales de comida en la región. Granjeros, Procesadoras y distribuidores a cual quier escala son bienvenidos.

Cuando y donde:

Regístrate para participar en este evento regional. Completamente gratuito para ambos Compradores institucionales y Proveedores de comida, (Espacio limitado registración requerida antes de la fecha siguiente).

  • Bangor – Marzo 26 2019, - Congnito Brewery – 4:00 – 6:00 PM

Registración cierra alas 5PM este Martes 19 de Marzo  

Anfitriones Locales: Mariel Borgman, MSU Extencion, Gaby Gerken, People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo, y John Egelhaaf, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

Mas informacion y registración en: bit.ly/CMMKTinfo2019.

 

 

Este evento de Cultivate Michigan Marketplace es brindado por The Michigan Farm to Institution Network con fondos de la W.K. Kellogg Foundatio. Coordinadores y anfitriones de MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Extencion, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission y The People's Food Co-Op of Kalamazoo.

 

 

********************************

Join fellow farm to institution leaders for a regional meet-the-buyers style event in Bangor, MI on March 26th, 2019. This networking event provides an opportunity for local and regional food suppliers and institutional food service buyers to connect around local food.

 

Who should participate?

  • Institutional Food Service Buyers interested in purchasing local food products from farmers and vendors in their region.
  • Food Suppliers interested in selling local foods to institutional food buyers in the region. Farmers, food hubs, processors and distributors of any scale are welcome.

 

How the event works:

It's a mix between speed-dating and a trade show! Cultivate Michigan Marketplace events are unique in that they focus on meeting the needs of institutional food service buyers. Each event is regional in scope and intended for institutional buyers and food suppliers of all scales. Buyers will be stationed at tables around the room, and suppliers will rotate to meet with buyers of their choice. Light refreshments will be provided along with plenty of time to mix and mingle!

 

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan Good Food Fund, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) will also have resource tables at the event.

 

When and where:

Register to participate in this regional event. It is free for both institutional buyers and food suppliers to attend, but space is limited and registration is required by the deadline below.

  • Bangor – March 26 – Cognito Brewery - 4:00 - 6:00 PM
    Register by 5 PM Tuesday, March 19
    Local Hosts: Mariel Borgman, MSU Extension, Gaby Gerken, People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo, and John Egelhaaf, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

 

Register by March 19 at CMMarketplace2019.

 

 

This Cultivate Michigan Marketplace is brought to you by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Coordinators and hosts include the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Extension, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and the People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo.

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Upcoming National FTI Metrics Collaborative webinar - Data Network Project

National Farm to Institution Metrics Collaborative Webinar Series: Data Network Project

3:30 – 4:00 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Register here

 

In this series, each 30-minute webinar will feature a different Collaborative member and a tool or program they have used to measure farm to institution efforts.

 

In the second webinar in this series, Ben Thomas of Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) will be joined by Neal Bram of Project Waste Not and Genna Lipari of Daylight Foods. They will discuss advancing data collection and analysis through a Data Network project that pulls together supply chain data from farmers, distributors, and buyers to enhance and automate purchasing and tracking.

 

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Core Partner, 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

 

Friday, March 8, 2019

Cultivating Community Resilience - March 14

Hello Farm to School advocates,
We are encouraging everybody on the list-serv to reserve the evening of March 14 to join a Traverse City community conversation about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), FREE at the City Opera House. Please invite partners and collaborators as you see fit.

Convened by Groundwork, the event is titled "Cultivating Community Resilience," and will show the nationally acclaimed film "Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope," and then follow with a panel discussion about ACEs, with an emphasis on the our community programs and healing impact of bringing healthy, nutrient-dense local foods into our lives. The panel discussion will be led by Meghan McDermott, Groundwork's Food & Farming program director, and will be followed with an audience question and answer session. The event is FREE, but we have a strong early response and are asking people to reserve tickets to ensure a seat. Go to the Groundwork Facebook event page for list of panelists, details and link to free ticket reservation or the event page www.farmsfoodhealth.org 

Schedule:

4:30 PM: Doors open, Pre-Screening Reception & Community Health Expo
5:30 PM: Welcome
6:00 PM: Documentary Screening
7:00 PM: 8:00 PM: Panel Discussion
8:00 PM: Post-Program Networking & Community Health Expo

Please forgive any cross-postings. 

--


JEN SCHAAP  |  Local Food Policy Specialist
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

P    231-941-6584 x708
A  313 Howard St, Unit B  |  Petoskey, MI 49770

pronouns: she/her/hers

The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is a Traverse City based non-profit. Our work is member-funded and community-driven. Protect what you love. Become a member of Groundwork today.
MIFARMTOSCHOOL is a listserv that links farm-to-school stakeholders and practitioners in Michigan, from school food service directors and school administrators to growers and distributors. Content posted to MIFARMTOSCHOOL does not necessarily reflect the views of Michigan State University or the Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Cultivate Michigan Marketplace - Mar 26 in Bangor, MI

 

 

 

Join fellow farm to institution leaders for a regional meet-the-buyers style event in Bangor, MI on March 26th, 2019. This networking event provides an opportunity for local and regional food suppliers and institutional food service buyers to connect around local food.

 

Who should participate?

  • Institutional Food Service Buyers interested in purchasing local food products from farmers and vendors in their region.
  • Food Suppliers interested in selling local foods to institutional food buyers in the region. Farmers, food hubs, processors and distributors of any scale are welcome.

 

How the event works:

It's a mix between speed-dating and a trade show! Cultivate Michigan Marketplace events are unique in that they focus on meeting the needs of institutional food service buyers. Each event is regional in scope and intended for institutional buyers and food suppliers of all scales. Buyers will be stationed at tables around the room, and suppliers will rotate to meet with buyers of their choice. Light refreshments will be provided along with plenty of time to mix and mingle!

 

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan Good Food Fund, and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) will also have resource tables at the event.

 

When and where:

Register to participate in this regional event. It is free for both institutional buyers and food suppliers to attend, but space is limited and registration is required by the deadline below.

  • Bangor – March 26 – Cognito Brewery - 4:00 - 6:00 PM
    Register by 5 PM Tuesday, March 19
    Local Hosts: Mariel Borgman, MSU Extension, Gaby Gerken, People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo, and John Egelhaaf, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission

 

Register by March 19 at CMMarketplace2019.

 

 

This Cultivate Michigan Marketplace is brought to you by the Michigan Farm to Institution Network with funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Coordinators and hosts include the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Extension, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and the People's Food Co-op of Kalamazoo.

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Core Partner, 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

Improved food choices and more local food in Michigan schools!

March 2019
Spring temperatures look to be in the forecast, and if your local stores are anything like those in our area, gardening supplies are starting to emerge.

For those of you who are thinking about gardening activities and teaching endeavors in the classroom - happy spring planning! And thanks for all you do for Michigan’s children.
News
Knudsen Elementary School student Emma Simpson pedals a smoothie bike.
Farm to School Helps Improves Food Choices in Michigan District as Part of Obesity Prevention Strategy
Waterford Public Schools is integrating farm to school as part of a county initiative to improve health and overall well-being. In addition to partnering with local farmers, the middle school has a greenhouse for students to grow and harvest food for their school cafeteria.

Fruit in a school cafeteria
10 Cents a Meal Program Increases Michigan-Grown Produce in Schools
This Michigan Good Food Story explores how the 10 Cents a Meal Program has increased the amount of locally grown produce in Michigan schools

School aquaponics team poses next to their aquaponics system
Using Aquaponics in Classrooms to Learn About Farming Systems
A Kentucky middle school is integrating technology and food system education through hydroponics. More importantly, the students are addressing issues of food access through indoor farming systems.

Events
21 Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge
April 1 - 21

Food Solutions New England offers an exciting opportunity to dive into building racial equity habits. For 21 days, talk about challenging and important issues and take action to make change.


Life Lab's 2019 School Garden Workshops
Santa Cruz, CA

In Life Lab's Garden Classroom on the UC Santa Cruz campus, professional trainers bring inspiration and information to educators interested in bringing learning to life in the garden. Workshops are available throughout 2019.

Resources
Racial Equity in the Food System Listserv
Michigan State University's Center for Regional Food Systems just launched a national Racial Equity Listserv - EQUITYFOOD - to complement its Racial Equity in the Food System workgroup.

Connect with your colleagues around building racial equity within the food system, and access resources like an annotated bibliography on structural racism, webinars, and various tools and articles.

American Indian Traditional Foods in USDA Schools Meals Programs: Wisconsin Farm to School Toolkit Available
A new resource is available to help source and use more traditional American Indian foods in menus for school meal programs. The Toolkit from USDA offers new recipes for schools, support for menu planning, and resources for procurement.

Opportunities
Seed kit from Slow Food USA
Slow Food Plant a Seed Kits
Request a Plant A Seed kit for your school (available until they run out) featuring six seed packets. Seed kits are available free of charge for schools with limited resources or are available for purchase.

Young child smiling with school lunch
Test Kitchen Grant, No Kid Hungry
Deadline: March 15

Join No Kid Hungry as part of the first cohort to test new models, strategies, or programs designed to provide more kids with meals in the summer. Organizations can receive up to $10,000 in grants and technical assistance.

Children eat lunch around a table
Game On and Parent-Led Grants Available for Schools
Deadline: April 5

These grants available through Action for Healthy Kids can be used to improve nutrition initiatives, including building school gardens.

About Michigan Farm to School

Farm to School centers around efforts to serve local foods in school and early care and education settings. We share ideas, tools and resources to support a range of efforts, from school garden programming to farmer visits and field trips.