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Thursday, July 28, 2022

Re: REMINDER: Educate your primary candidate about 10 Cents a Meal!

Stop

From: Melanie Wong <melanie@GROUNDWORKCENTER.ORG>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:51:08 AM
To: MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU <MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU>
Subject: REMINDER: Educate your primary candidate about 10 Cents a Meal!
 
Hello, NOW is an important―and historic―time to educate candidates in the upcoming August 2 primary election about 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms, which if you haven't heard was just funded at a record $9.3 million! Groundwork Center has created tools to make educating candidates super easy. Click here to send an email to your candidates and find your districts.
10 Cent a Meal is the popular and effective state program that helps schools, early childhood education centers, and other organizations participating in USDA Child Nutrition programs purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes to children. And the new legislative budget language means the program will be much easier for those who feed our children to spend their 10 Cents a Meal funds.
Every House and Senate seat is up for election, with many races effectively decided in the primary. And this is a historic election because districts in Michigan have been redrawn. Groundwork's educate-your-candidate tool has links to show you your new House and Senate districts, and it lets you decide which candidates you would like to send your email to. 
Here are three things you can do if you would like to educate candidates and share this opportunity with your friends and colleagues:
  • Click here to send an email to your candidates and find your districts.

  • Share this one-pager with a candidate at a coffee hour or other event.
  • Share the tools above with your network or share this Facebook post

Thanks! Remember the primary is August 2, just days away. Happy summer! Melanie Wong MA, RDN Farm to ECE Specialist Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

Sign up to receive our Groundwork Voice e-newsletter!

You can donate to Groundwork by clicking here!

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.

REMINDER: Educate your primary candidate about 10 Cents a Meal!

Hello, NOW is an important—and historic—time to educate candidates in the upcoming August 2 primary election about 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms, which if you haven't heard was just funded at a record $9.3 million! Groundwork Center has created tools to make educating candidates super easy. Click here to send an email to your candidates and find your districts.
10 Cent a Meal is the popular and effective state program that helps schools, early childhood education centers, and other organizations participating in USDA Child Nutrition programs purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes to children. And the new legislative budget language means the program will be much easier for those who feed our children to spend their 10 Cents a Meal funds.
Every House and Senate seat is up for election, with many races effectively decided in the primary. And this is a historic election because districts in Michigan have been redrawn. Groundwork's educate-your-candidate tool has links to show you your new House and Senate districts, and it lets you decide which candidates you would like to send your email to. 
Here are three things you can do if you would like to educate candidates and share this opportunity with your friends and colleagues:
  • Click here to send an email to your candidates and find your districts.

  • Share this one-pager with a candidate at a coffee hour or other event.
  • Share the tools above with your network or share this Facebook post

Thanks! Remember the primary is August 2, just days away. Happy summer! Melanie Wong MA, RDN Farm to ECE Specialist Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

Sign up to receive our Groundwork Voice e-newsletter!

You can donate to Groundwork by clicking here!

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, July 27, 2022

New USDA Farm to School Grant Awards Announced

Congratulations to the Michigan awardees!

Earlier this week, the USDA announced the new grant awards for the USDA Farm to School Grant Program, totaling over $70 million.

Read more in their press release and check out the list of grant awards by state.
Special congratulations go out to the Michigan grant awardees and their partners!

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.

You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the MIFARMTOSCHOOL listserv. Please note that if you unsubscribe from this mailing, you will be removed from the listserv.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Educate Your Primary Candidates about 10 Cents a Meal!

Farm to School Advocates, Farmers, Folks in Policy, and anyone interested in feeding Michigan kids Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables and legumes at school — this is a way to educate your community and representatives.
It's an important—and historic—time to educate candidates in the upcoming August 2 primary election about 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms, which if you haven't heard was just funded at a record $9.3 million. Groundwork Center has created tools to make educating candidates super easy.
10 Cent a Meal is the popular and effective state program that helps schools, early childhood education centers, and other organizations participating in USDA Child Nutrition programs purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes to children.
Every House and Senate seat is up for election, with many races effectively decided in the primary. And this is a historic election because districts in Michigan have been redrawn. Groundwork's educate-your-candidate tool has links to show you your new House and Senate districts, and it lets you decide which candidates you would like to send your email to. 
Here are three things you can do if you would like to educate candidates and share this opportunity with your friends and colleagues:
  • Click here to send an email to your candidates and find your districts.

  • Share this one-pager with a candidate at a coffee hour or other event.
  • Share the tools above with your network or share this Facebook post

Thanks! Remember the primary is August 2, just days away. Happy summer!


--
*My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel the need to respond outside of your working hours.*

JEN SCHAAP  |  Food and Farming Program Director
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.

Friday, July 15, 2022

RELEASE: 10 Cents a Meal Funding of $9.3 Million Secured for FY ‘23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2022

10 Cents a Meal Funding of $9.3 Million Secured for FY '23

FLINT, MI - Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan education budget into law at Mott Community College Thursday, putting into place historic investments not only for per-pupil funding but also for 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids & Farms. The budget includes $9.3 million for the program.

10 Cents a Meal is Michigan's local food investment program that provides schools, early childhood education centers, and other organizations participating in USDA Child Nutrition programs with match incentive funding up to 10 cents per meal to purchase and serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

10 Cents a Meal is implemented by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and has the goals of improving daily nutrition and eating habits for Michigan's children and investing in Michigan's agriculture and related local food business economy.

"The 10 Cents a Meal program feeds our kids and supports family farmers and growers. Under this historic education bill, we have again more than doubled funding for this program that offers healthy, affordable meals to our kids," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "As we continue our economic jumpstart, we have to make sure everyone has the resources and support they need to succeed. I am grateful to the Michigan Department of Education and legislators for coming together to get this done for our kids."

The program, which has grown from a $250,000 state pilot in 2016, has seen its budget more than double each of the past two years from $2 million in FY '21 to $4.5 million in FY '22 and now $9.3 million for FY '23. 

The program is currently in its second year of statewide availability, and there are now 257 unique grantees for the 2021-22 school year, representing over 585,000 children. Compared to last year's 143 grantees, the program has seen a nearly 80% increase in grant recipients in a single year.

"One of my proudest accomplishments during my legislative tenure has been the growth of 10 Cents a Meal," said Senator Wayne Schmidt (R-Traverse City) chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on K-12 and Michigan Department of Education, and the program's key legislative champion. "This program is critically-important in getting fresh Michigan fruits and vegetables to our students. I have been thrilled to see the statewide growth of the program and could not be happier to see funding grow to $9.3 million for the upcoming fiscal year," 

10 Cents a Meal is open to school districts (public, public school academies, or private), and non-school sponsors of USDA Child Nutrition Programs such as residential childcare institutions (RCCIs), child care centers and after school programs participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), National Breakfast Program (NBP), and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

In addition to the funding increase, the budget language streamlines reporting requirements for schools and other grantees and adds food purchased for supporting farm to school activities as eligible uses of grant funds.

"The change in reporting requirements and allowing grant funds to be used for supportive farm to school activities will make it easier for food program managers to complete the administrative needs of the program and to expand their efforts," said Melanie Wong, dietitian and Farm to ECE Specialist for Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.

MDE is assisted in the program by Groundwork Center, which conducts stakeholder interviews, communications, and outreach; the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems,  which is the evaluation partner and supports trainings; and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which provides expertise on Michigan-grown products.

Find more information about 10 Cents a Meal at tencentsmichigan.org.

###

Program Contacts:

Wendy Crowley, Michigan Department of Education, CrowleyW@michigan.gov 

Melanie Wong, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, melanie@groundworkcenter.org  

Lori Yelton, Michigan Department of Rural Agriculture and Development, YeltonL@michigan.gov 

Megan McManus, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, mcmanu60@msu.edu 

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

Melanie Wong MA, RDN Farm to ECE Specialist

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

Sign up to receive our Groundwork Voice e-newsletter!

You can donate to Groundwork by clicking here!

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, July 13, 2022

Michigan Farm to Summer Month Proclamation!

(Apologies for cross-posting)

 

 

Greetings,

Great news! Governor Whitmer has proclaimed July 2022 as Michigan Farm to Summer Month! You can see the proclamation attached and online here.

 

You can learn more from the Michigan Department of Education about the Summer Food Service Program in Michigan and 2022 Farm to Summer Week, which runs next week from July 18 – July 22!

 

Thank you to the many Michigan sponsors of the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for the important work you do to provide nutritious food to children throughout the summer months!

 

Special thanks Governor Whitmer for her support and the Michigan Departments of Education and Agricultural and Rural Development for their ongoing work to bring more Michigan foods into all types of USDA Child Nutrition Programs operating in the state.

 

Happy Michigan Farm to Summer Month!

 

Colleen Matts

(she, her, hers)

Director, Farm to Institution Programs

Coordinator, Michigan Farm to Institution Network

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

matts@msu.edu | 517.432.0310

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

 

Michigan Farm to Summer Month Proclamation!

Greetings,

Great news! Governor Whitmer has proclaimed July 2022 as Michigan Farm to Summer Month! You can see the proclamation attached and online here.

 

You can learn more from the Michigan Department of Education about the Summer Food Service Program in Michigan and 2022 Farm to Summer Week, which runs next week from July 18 – July 22!

 

Thank you to the many Michigan sponsors of the USDA Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for the important work you do to provide nutritious food to children throughout the summer months!

 

Special thanks Governor Whitmer for her support and the Michigan Departments of Education and Agricultural and Rural Development for their ongoing work to bring more Michigan foods into all types of USDA Child Nutrition Programs operating in the state.

 

Happy Michigan Farm to Summer Month!

 

Colleen Matts

(she, her, hers)

Director, Farm to Institution Programs

Coordinator, Michigan Farm to Institution Network

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

matts@msu.edu | 517.432.0310

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

 

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Share your ideas and stories for the upcoming conference on hunger, nutrition and health

The 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health is coming up in September 2022!
The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health - only the second of its kind in over 50 years - is coming up in September 2022.

There is an open call for ideas and stories to inform the conference planning and a national strategy. Anyone is able to submit written ideas and stories directly by July 15th.

Farm to school practitioners, advocates, and supporters may have especially unique perspectives to share related to one or more of the five conference pillars:
  1. Improve food access and affordability
  2. Integrate nutrition and health
  3. Empower all consumers to make and have access to healthy choices
  4. Support physical activity for all
  5. Enhance nutrition and food security research
Additional Resources
Check out this toolkit from the National Farm to School Network about who should engage in this effort and ways to do so, and learn more about other policy opportunities they are pursuing.
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.

You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the MIFARMTOSCHOOL listserv. Please note that if you unsubscribe from this mailing, you will be removed from the listserv.