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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

10 Cents a Meal Grant Application Re-Opens

10 Cents a Meal Grant Application Re-Opens

The 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms grant application is open for a second round of grants for the current 2021 funding year (which runs through September 30, 2021.) Grants will be awarded by the Michigan Department of Education until the funds are expended, so the sooner applicants apply the better. 

If your school or early childhood education center missed applying by the last deadline, please be sure to let them know, and also any farmers or local produce suppliers that might be interested in serving the customers who serve our children. A list of current grantees is available here.

Learn more about the new application opportunity and related resources here.

Please spread the word. Here is a post you can share if you share information by social media.

10 Cents a Meal is a competitive, matching grant for all school districts (public, public school academies, or private), residential childcare institutions (RCCIs), and child care centers that participate in the USDA child nutrition programs of Extended Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) during the school year, National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

 

It supports schools and early childhood education centers in buying and serving Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes. The Michigan legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer increased funding from $575,000 to $2 million for 10 Cents a Meal in the 2021 budget. Initially a pilot program launched in 2016, 10 Cents a Meal has been expanded so that it is available to schools statewide for the first time ever. Additionally, the program has been expanded to include early childhood centers as also eligible for the grant funding.

 


 
__________________________

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 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

FW: IMPORTANT Questions for Michigan Farmers - $20 gift card for first 200 respondents

Greetings Michigan farmers and food producers,

 

Please see the request below from a Chicago-based partner related to research project and forthcoming market opportunities in the Chicagoland area. Follow the survey link below to provide information if you wish. And feel free to share within your Michigan networks!

 

Thank you for your consideration,

 

Colleen Matts

(she, her, hers)

Farm to Institution Specialist

Coordinator, Michigan Farm to Institution Network

Core Partner, National Farm to School Network

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

matts@msu.edu | 517.432.0310

foodsystems.msu.edu | cultivatemichigan.org | mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

In response to the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems team members are working remotely and refraining from travel or attending in-person meetings. Our response time may be a bit slower than normal due to family and community responsibilities. 

 

 

From: Weslynne Ashton <washton@stuart.iit.edu>
Date: Thursday, January 14, 2021 at 11:31 AM
Subject: IMPORTANT Questions for Michigan Farmers - $20 gift card for first 200 respondents

 

Hello,

 

We are reaching out to you as a key member of the Michigan farming community and an important contributor to our regional food systems. 

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us how critical local farming is to the resilience to our regional food systems. We are a team of researchers mapping the contributions of local farmers and food producers to the Chicagoland food system (those located within 300 miles of the city, including Michigan). Through our work, we hope to identify new market opportunities and sales channels for locally produced food from businesses like yours. 

 

We would greatly appreciate it if you could take ~10 minutes to complete a survey to understand what "Good Food" practices farmers, like you, are employing and the challenges you face. 

 

As a token of appreciation for your time, we are offering a $20 gift card to the first 200 people who complete the survey.

 

Thank you!

--

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

FW: Michigan Department of Education Press Release - 10 Cents a Meal Grants Awarded to 138 Statewide Applicants

Greetings,

Please see below and attached for the good news from the Michigan Department of Education about the 10 Cents grants for the 2020-2021 year!

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

(she, her, hers)

Farm to Institution Specialist

Coordinator, Michigan Farm to Institution Network

Core Partner, National Farm to School Network

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

matts@msu.edu | 517.432.0310

foodsystems.msu.edu | cultivatemichigan.org | mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

In response to the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems team members are working remotely and refraining from travel or attending in-person meetings. Our response time may be a bit slower than normal due to family and community responsibilities. 

 

 

 


Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 8:59 AM
Subject: Michigan Department of Education Press Release

 

 

 

MDE Logo    Press Release

 

 

 

Contact:  Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs, 517-241-4395

              Bill Disessa, Spokesperson, 517-335-6649

 

 

10 Cents a Meal Grants Awarded
to 138 Statewide Applicants

January 19, 2021

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has selected 138 grantees across the state for its 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms grantees for 2020-2021, many of which are first-time grantees.

The Fiscal Year 2021 state budget, approved by the Michigan Legislature and signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, increased funding from $575,000 to $2 million for the 10 Cents a Meal Program, which allows the program to expand statewide and include early childhood centers as eligible for the grant funding. 

"Providing healthy meals for children and supporting our state's growers is a win-win for Michigan," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "The 10 Cents a Meal program helps meet a Top 10 state strategic education goal of improving the health safety, and wellness of learners. I want to thank the legislature and governor for expanding the program to benefit many more communities across our state."

10 Cents A Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms (10 Cents a Meal) is a state-funded program providing schools with matching incentive funding up to 10 cents per meal to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Initially a pilot program launched in 2016, 10 Cents a Meal has been expanded and is available to schools statewide for the first time ever. 

A total of 138 grantees from the upper and lower peninsulas that serve over 406,000 children have been approved for the program to improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children.  Through the program, schools and early childhood education centers are able to purchase locally and invest in Michigan's agriculture.

"We've seen the success of the program," said state Senator Wayne Schmidt, who chairs the Senate K-12 and Department of Education appropriations subcommittee. "We know the importance of nutrition for school-age children, and we know the importance of Michigan agriculture. When you can blend the two together, it equals success. We want to continue that. 

"The COVID crisis has highlighted health care needs," he added. "Obviously, one of the best ways to deal with any health challenge is good nutrition. It's fresh fruits and vegetables, and Michigan has a lot of them." 

First-time awardees include Detroit Public Schools Community District, the state's largest school district, which received a grant of $100,000. "Feeding Detroit's school children healthy and nutritious food grown right here in Michigan is a win for both our hardworking Michigan farmers and for DPSCD. Every child deserves access to the best fresh produce available, so I am so pleased and excited to see the 10 Cents a Meal program will be available here in Detroit," said state Senator Stephanie Chang, who represents Detroit. 

In this time of greater food insecurity due to the pandemic, food service programs are playing an essential role in delivering healthy, nutritious meals to Michigan's children. The 10 Cents a Meal program amplifies local purchasing power while also providing a market for small-to-medium scale growers. 

"As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud of our state for coming together during a particularly challenging time to increase funding for the 10 Cents a Meal program," said state Representative Sarah Anthony. "Right here in Greater Lansing, we have seen an unprecedented level of need from working families and our students need more support than ever at home. The $113,000 in funds for schools in Ingham County will surely go a long way.  

"The COVID-19 pandemic has also continued to shed light on the racial disparities in health outcomes and nutrition, and the 10 Cents a Meal program will play an important role in closing the equity gap, so all children have the resources they need to thrive," Rep. Anthony added. 

MDE is assisted in the program by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which provides expertise on Michigan-grown products and participates in food service director trainings; the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, which conducts monthly food service director surveys for evaluation; and Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, which conducts stakeholder interviews and provides communications support.  

To learn more, please visit
www.tencentsmichigan.org. For the list of 2020-21 award grantees, visit https://www.tencentsmichigan.org/about

Program Contacts:
Diane Golzynski, Michigan Department of Education,
GolzynskiD@michigan.gov  

Nathan Medina, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities,
nathan@groundworkcenter.org  

Colleen Matts, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems,
matts@msu.edu


# # #

 

 

 

 


Monday, January 18, 2021

385 annotated references on structural racism in U.S. food systems: 35 to watch and 350 to read

Explore 106 new annotated references in the eighth edition
The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is pleased to share the 8th edition of the Annotated Bibliography on Structural Racism Present in the U.S. Food System. This edition includes 100 new publication citations and six added recordings.
An Annotated Bibliography on Structural Racism Present in the U.S. Food System
Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the refocused attention on racism in 2020 influenced the substantial number of new references.

The annotated bibliography offers a foundation for learning and communicating about structural racism in the U.S. food system. It includes 350 publications and 35 videos that explore structural racism both across the national system, in specific food system sectors, and within local and regional geographies.

This annotated format is useful for food systems practitioners, policymakers, researchers, educators, advocates, scholars, and students.

The references are also compiled in a Zotero group library to make it easier for users to access and cite the annotated bibliography sources. Zotero is a free citation management software.

Most references were crowd-sourced – collected via a nationwide request sent through food systems networks.
For more information, contact Rich Pirog, Center for Regional Food Systems, rspirog@msu.edu.


This work was supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 
Please help spread the word! 
Suggested social media posts are below. You can include these graphics in your posts. 


This foundation for learning and communicating about #StructuralRacism in U.S. food systems just added 106 references. @MSUCRFS foodsystems.msu.edu/annotatedbib

Learn more about #StructuralRacism in the food system with latest edition of @MSUCRFS annotated bibliography. Find it at foodsystems.msu.edu/annotatedbib.
EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu
CALL 517-353-3535
FOLLOW @MSUCRFS
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Friday, January 8, 2021

Fw: LIVE Winter Virtual Farm Tour!

Hoping this finds you all healthy and doing well in the new year-
Forwarding information about a free virtual field trip of a dairy farm for this Cultivate Michigan featured food taking place next week. 



 

Take your students on a free virtual field trip to a Michigan dairy farm to see how the calves and cows are taken care of during the winter months. On January 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., Mootilda, the Milk Means More mascot, will be visiting Sheridan Dairy Farm to celebrate National Milk Day! While at the farm, Farmer Ashley will also show how technology is used to help care for the cows who make delicious and nutritious milk. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions during the live tour. Teachers can register to join the tour through Zoom and will receive updates and reminders. The virtual farm tour will also be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Visit MilkMeansMore.org for more information.

 

 

If you would like to share this event on your social platforms, below is ready to use copy. Social images are attached to this email. Recommended Hashtags - #MilkMeansMore #UndeniablyDairy #MMMVFT

 

Join [tag/@] Milk Means More on National Milk Day for a FREE Virtual Farm Tour of a Michigan dairy farm! Learn how Farmer Ashley cares for her calves and cows during the winter months. 🐄❄️

 

Where: Live on Facebook and YouTube
When: January 11, 2021 @ 1 p.m.

 

Learn more + register: https://bit.ly/3i0NmN4

 

 

Thank you!

 

 

Amiee

 

Amiee Vondrasek
Youth Wellness Manager

United Dairy Industry of Michigan
Amiee@MilkMeansMore.org
o: (517) 349-8923 ext 235

c: (517) 342-4393

 

 




Meagan K. Shedd, PhD
Assistant Professor, Farm to Early Care and K-12 Education
Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University
Department of Community Sustainability | College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
480 Wilson Rd, Room 309 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
517.432.4525 | 
mshedd@msu.edu

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