Michigan Farm to School Updates | | Stay informed on the latest news, resources, and events! | | 10 Cents a Meal grant application now open! | | | The Michigan Department of Education’s 2025-2026 application for 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan's Kids and Farms is now available. Any sponsor of a federal Child Nutrition Program is eligible to apply for 10 Cents a Meal!
10 Cents a Meal reimburses 50% of the cost of buying and serving Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables, and dry beans in meals and educational activities for children. Grantees can also use up to 25% of their grant award to receive 100% reimbursement for transportation and labor expenses such as delivery fees, mileage costs, and part time labor expenses that support the goals of the program. To access MDE’s virtual walkthrough of the application process and the 2025-2026 scoring rubric, please visit the How to Apply page.
Free training sessions will be offered across the state this summer. These sessions cover how 10 Cents a Meal works, how to source local produce, what is needed to participate, and hands-on application assistance. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
- Bay City – June 16, 2025 2-4pm ET Register
- Kalamazoo – June 23, 2025 2-4pm ET Register
- Traverse City – June 25, 2025 2-4pm ET Register
- Fruitport – June 26, 2025 9-11am ET Register
- Mason/Ingham – August 7, 2025 2-4pm ET Register
- Macomb - August 14, 2025 2-4pm ET Register
- Flint – August 18, 2025 2-4pm ET Register
- Virtual training – TBD
Need help or have questions about the 10 Cents a Meal Program? Schedule time with MDE’s Farm to Program team via Microsoft Bookings. | | | Last month, the House Agriculture Committee passed their portion of a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that proposes deep cuts to food and nutrition programs, including the total elimination of the USDA’s Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Grant Program—more commonly known as SNAP-Ed. Now, the Senate will be taking up its version of the Reconciliation bill.
Last week, Governor Whitmer shared what this would mean for Michigan’s communities. Read the Governor’s press release highlighting the impact of cuts to food assistance programs on Michigan’s hunger, economy, health, and future.
What can you do? Educating about the impact these potential cuts would have in your communities can take many forms...
- Raise awareness on the importance of SNAP-Ed—it's the biggest support for nutrition interventions that improve health, and it also provides one of the most stable sources of funding for state and local governments to work on farm to school issues. Read more from the National Farm to School Network to learn more about how SNAP-Ed supports farm to school and food systems work.
- Contact your Senator to inform them of the priorities your community cares about.
- Read more in MSU Extension’s live educational toolkit to learn key points about proposed legislation.
| | | | Saginaw ISD and Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds
On the road that leads from the farm to the tray, we encounter many folks along the way who contribute to feeding our kids. This story, Saginaw ISD and Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, features Josh Miller, Nutrition and Wellness Education Program Supervisor for the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Program at Saginaw ISD and throughout Bay and Arenac Counties.
Read the story | | | | Native Farm to School Policy Report — Leveraging Policy for Native Food Sovereignty, Education, and Empowerment June 17, 1pm ET
Explore the Native Farm to School Policy Report, which offers a powerful look into how policy can support Native food sovereignty, education, and community empowerment. This is a valuable opportunity to learn how policy change can drive justice-centered, community-rooted food systems. This session will provide:
- A broader historical policy view, including the lasting impact of federal Indian policy
- Insights on how Native communities are leveraging policy to reclaim and strengthen traditional food systems
- Stories of how these efforts are shaping education and youth empowerment
| | | CACFP Virtual Summit August 13-21, 2025
Join the largest online CACFP training event of the year, August 13–21, 2025! Recordings of all Virtual Summit sessions will be available to view on demand through September 4, 2025. The CACFP Virtual Summit offers a wide range of workshops on the following:
- Nutrition and meal planning
- Program administration and operations
- Financial and nonprofit management
| | | Life Lab–Certified School Garden Educators Course September 2- December 16, 2025
This 16-week virtual course helps educators create inclusive, engaging garden classrooms that support environmental learning, nutrition education, and social-emotional growth. Cost is $1,400 (includes materials and certification) and is open to all, no prior experience or degree required. Program includes:
- Weekly live Zoom sessions (Tuesdays, 3:30–5:00 PM PT)
- 1-on-1 coaching and flexible asynchronous content
- Certification and access to Life Lab’s curriculum, including The Growing Classroom guide and digital K–2 lessons
| | | The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference December 2-5, 2025
The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is moving to December 2-5, 2025 in Albuquerque, NM. The momentum for farm to institution work has never been more critical. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and get ready for a transformative experience!
Registration opens June 2025. | | Resources and Inspiration | | | National School Garden Map - The School Garden Support Organization (SGNO) Network is engaging national and regional partners to synthesize school garden data, create an interactive map for public use, and analyze the state of school gardens across the country. For more information email info@sgsonetwork.org or daniel@sgsonetwork.org.
You will receive information on how to get involved by: - Sharing your regional garden data.
- Providing feedback through SGSO Network gatherings or mapping project informational webinars.
- Using and sharing the tool with your garden community.
Chef Ann Bulk Milk Grant - Chef Ann’s Bulk Milk program helps schools transition from serving milk in single-serve containers to serving milk using bulk dispensers and reusable cups. Applications are now open! Apply by June 26, 2025.
Hunger to Health Collaboratory 2025 Prizes for Innovation - The Hunger to Health Collaboratory is calling for applications for its 2025 Prizes for Innovation and will award two $100,000 prizes to organizations advancing health equity for youth through food and nutrition policy change. New this year, in collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation, four $25,000 prizes will be awarded to organizations working in nutrition education and school food and Indigenous food justice for youth. Apply by July 1, 2025.
Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation and Spark Awards - The Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub will be offering Spark and Innovation Collaborative grants between $30,000 and $500,000 for districts to innovate and improve school meals. The award cycle is due to open in late 2025; now is a great time to brainstorm and connect to the Michigan State Lead Team to learn more about the Innovation Hub, grants, and resources available.
Healthy School Meals for All Story Call-Out! - The American Heart Association is collecting personal stories to help illustrate why the Healthy School Meals for All program matters so much to students, families, and schools across Michigan. Help build this collection of stories by sharing the link above with those who may want to share their experience.
Increasing Scratch Cooking in School: A Policy Roadmap - Learn how the Chef Ann Foundation has outlined its policy priorities for addressing systemic barriers to increasing scratch cooking in schools, expanding access to healthy school meals, and unlocking the academic, environmental, economic, and social benefits that scratch cooking offers children and communities.
Harvest of the Month - Looking for educational inspiration to serve local foods? Share fun videos in your classroom and download other free resources highlighting various foods through this resource by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.
| | | | Asparagus! A Cultivate Michigan Summer Food Explore Michigan asparagus sourcing tips, resources, and recipes for your ECE site. Looking for weekend plans? The National Asparagus Festival is this weekend in Hart, Michigan! | | | 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. | | | | |
Posts