Michigan Farm To School - Blog

"Farm to school" applies to a variety of initiatives in Michigan, including efforts to offer local foods in school cafeterias, school garden programs, fundraisers that take advantage of local products, farmer visits to school classrooms and cafeterias, and field trips to nearby farms. Michigan Farm to School is a portal for information and a venue for sharing ideas, tools, and resources to support these and other efforts to link schools with local agriculture in Michigan.

Saturday, October 31, 2026

Collaboration Request

Greetings, I trust this message meets you in a good health. I am Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, responsible for monitoring environmental compliance in Niger Delta oil and gas operations and reporting findings to the Presidency. My recent investigations identified significant violations involving four major oil-producing companies; Shell, Mobile, Elf and Shevron. The four companies were assessed penalties totaling US$1.2Billion, with potential revocation of their operating licences for non-compliance. Following their appeals for a reduction or waiver, the Federal Government reviewed their requests and reduced the applicable fines to US$800,000,000. The companies have since settled the revised penalties with the Ministry of Environment and indicated an intention to provide a US$50,000,000 compensation in recognition of my role. However, as a senior public official, I must comply with the applicable Code of Conduct and cannot operate a foreign bank account or receive such funds directly. I therefore seek your assistance in identifying a resourceful and transparent mechanism through which the gratification can be claimed without any traces to me. Any proposed arrangement should be properly documented and, where required, discussed with a financial facilitator without mentioning names; so that all parties are adequately protected and the transaction is handled through the proper channels. I would appreciate your guidance and cooperation in resolving this matter in a manner that is fully compliant with existing financial regulations. Best regards, Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor Director General NESREA.

Resourceful Update

Greetings, I trust this message meets you in a good health. I am Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor, Director-General of NESREA, responsible for monitoring environmental compliance in Niger Delta oil and gas operations and reporting findings to the Presidency. My recent investigations identified significant violations involving four major oil-producing companies; Shell, Mobile, Elf and Chevron. The four companies were assessed penalties totaling US$1.2Billion, with potential revocation of their operating licences for non-compliance. Following their appeals for a reduction or waiver, the Federal Government reviewed their requests and reduced the applicable fines to US$800,000,000. The companies have since settled the revised penalties with the Ministry of Environment and indicated an intention to provide a US$50,000,000 compensation in recognition of my role. However, as a senior public official, I must comply with the applicable Code of Conduct and cannot operate a foreign bank account or receive such funds directly. I therefore seek your assistance in identifying a resourceful and transparent mechanism through which the gratification can be claimed without any traces to me. Any proposed arrangement should be properly documented and, where required, discussed with a financial facilitator without mentioning names; so that all parties are adequately protected and the transaction is handled through the proper channels. I would appreciate your guidance and cooperation in resolving this matter in a manner that is fully compliant with existing financial regulations. Best regards, Dr. Innocent Bariate Barikor Director General NESREA.

Friday, October 30, 2026

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Sharing Michigan GRANT for scratch cooking equipment

Amazing opportunity from the State of Michigan for kitchen equipment to increase scratch cooking for students. Local education agencies should submit a letter of intent by Tuesday, November 24. Informational webinar to learn more about the application process on November 10!

Please see the very informative bulletin below!

Julie Lehman (she/her)

Farm to Youth Network Coordinator

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

Michigan Farm to ECE

Michigan Farm to School

Lake Michigan School Food System Innovation Hub

From: Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development <MDARD@govsubscriptions.michigan.gov>
Subject: Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development Daily Digest Bulletin

MDARD Launches Scratch Cooking Pilot to Put More Michigan-Grown Foods on School Menus

10/29/2026

For immediate release: October 29, 2026
Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel, 517-290-1734

MDARD Launches Scratch Cooking Pilot to Put More Michigan-Grown Foods on School Menus

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MDARD) Farm to Family Program today launched a Scratch Cooking Pilot that provides grants of up to $100,000 to help Michigan schools serve students more meals made from locally sourced foods.

“Healthy, nourishing food is one of the most powerful things we have to help students thrive,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “When schools can cook meals from scratch using fresh Michigan ingredients, we’re not just improving what’s on a lunch tray—we’re investing in students’ well‑being, their readiness to learn and their long-term success. This grant builds on our historic investments in students and schools and continues our work to give every kid the best chance at building a bright future.”

To pursue grant funding under the new pilot, local education agencies (LEAs) must submit a letter of intent to MDARD by 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. MDARD encourages prospective applicants to attend an informational webinar to learn more about the application process on November 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.

“We know that incorporating fresh, nutritious foods into school meals improves students’ health and academic success,” said MDARD Director Tim Boring. “The Farm to Family Program’s Scratch Cooking Pilot will give Michigan schools the resources they need to prepare healthier meals while also creating new market opportunities for Michigan farmers and producers. Plus, this investment builds on the holistic approach the state is taking to ensure our students have the best options in the lunchroom. From MDARD’s Good Food for Michigan Project addressing institutional procurement to free school meals being the standard statewide—Michigan is leading the way in cultivating better outcomes for our children.”

The funding for this pilot was created in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2027 budget, which Gov. Whitmer signed in July.

“Scratch cooking gives schools an opportunity to serve students fresh, nutritious meals while making better use of locally grown Michigan products,” said Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Development and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. “The funding we secured in the budget will help schools increase their kitchen capacity while providing the training needed to prepare more meals from scratch. These efforts will strengthen the connection between Michigan agriculture and our schools while ensuring that our students have access to quality meals that support their health and success in the classroom.”

“As a legislator and father of two young students, I believe school lunch should be the kind of meal we'd be proud to serve at our own kitchen tables,” said Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint), chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee. “By funding the Scratch Cooking Pilot, Michigan is investing in school kitchens and the culinary skills to put freshly grown, freshly prepared food on every tray.”

Scratch cooking refers to preparing meals using fresh, raw or minimally processed foods. When adopted by school food programs, scratch cooking tends to give students access to healthier meals. However, research has shown that school food programs face barriers to scratch cooking, including equipment limitations, insufficient staffing and financial constraints.

MDARD’s Scratch Cooking Pilot addresses these challenges by helping Michigan school food programs invest in:

Equipment and supplies for efficiently processing locally sourced fruits and vegetables.
Equipment and supplies that increase offerings of homemade sauces, soups, smoothies, batters and other foods that require blending.
Equipment and supplies that enhance batch cooking of fresh vegetables, proteins, grains and other foods.
Equipment and supplies necessary to prepare animal and plant-based proteins for consumption.
Personnel focused on implementing long-term scratch cooking programs.
Other innovative means of enhancing scratch cooking programs, such as implementing software systems that facilitate procurement of local foods.

The Scratch Cooking Pilot is open to LEAs in Michigan that purchase and serve local agriculture products. Interested LEAs should review the grant guidelines on MDARD’s Scratch Cooking in Schools Pilot web page.

The application process for the Scratch Cooking Pilot will proceed in two stages. In the first stage, prospective applicants will use an online survey to submit letters of intent to MDARD. MDARD will review all letters of intent received by November 24, 2026, for relevance to the goals and eligibility requirements outlined in the grant guidelines.

In the second stage, MDARD will invite qualified applicants to submit a full grant application via the MiAgGrants web portal by January 22, 2027. MDARD will then assess applications and announce the recipients in March 2027.

The Scratch Cooking Pilot builds on the Farm to Family Program’s transformative efforts to give Michiganders more access to locally grown foods while giving farmers and food producers more opportunities to sell in their communities. The program’s inaugural food hub and farm stop grants spurred $3.4 million in local food sales while its Good Food for Michigan Project has delivered more local foods to Michigan students, seniors and hospital patients. Moreover, the program has helped deliver new market opportunities for beginning farmers and helped farmers and small food businesses across Michigan address transportation gaps.

The Farm to Family Program was first proposed in Gov. Whitmer's Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget. Learn more about its work on the MDARD website.

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Thursday, October 29, 2026

EWA Bahrain Vendor Registration Program – 2026–2027

Dear Valued Vendor, EWA Bahrain invites qualified companies and independent service providers to participate in its 2026–2027 Vendor Registration Program, supporting strategic partnerships and supplier development. Interested organizations may request the following documents: Vendor Security Assessment Questionnaire (VSAQ) Expression of Interest (EOI) Vendor Registration Guidelines For the complete registration package and further information, contact the Procurement & Supply Department at **info@ewa- procurementbh.com**. We appreciate your interest and look forward to potential business collaboration. Kind regards, Mr. Jaideep Chenkarath Procurement & Supply Officer EWA Bahrain info@ewa-procurementbh.com

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Re: Nov 5 - Nourishing Communities Through Indigenous Foodways: Conversation + Cooking with NATIFS

November 5 is the SNAM conference so it will be hard for many to attend.

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From: Jen Schaap <Jen.schaap@GROUNDWORKCENTER.ORG>
Sent: Tuesday, 27 October 2026 16:49:06
To: MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU <MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU>
Subject: Nov 5 - Nourishing Communities Through Indigenous Foodways: Conversation + Cooking with NATIFS

You don't often get email from jen.schaap@groundworkcenter.org. Learn why this is important

External Email

Hello farm to school friends,

Groundwork is sharing this exciting opportunity on behalf of Newman's Own Foundation who is a grantee partner of NATIFS.

Featured Recipes include Three Sisters Bison Stew and Sweet Potato Donuts. (Shop ahead and cook along!)

Share with your networks!

Nourishing Communities Through Indigenous Foodways: Conversation + Cooking with NATIFS (November 5). Step inside the North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) test kitchen for a virtual culinary experience with Culinary Director Chef Lee Garman! You'll hear how NATIFS is advancing Indigenous food education for Native youth and preserving food traditions. This event is free and open to the public.

*My working hours vary. 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

(hear my name)

pronouns: she/hers

P 231-941-6584 x 708

W groundworkcenter.org

F Groundwork Center

I groundworkcenter

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.

Nov 5 - Nourishing Communities Through Indigenous Foodways: Conversation + Cooking with NATIFS

Hello farm to school friends,

Groundwork is sharing this exciting opportunity on behalf of Newman's Own Foundation who is a grantee partner of NATIFS.

Featured Recipes include Three Sisters Bison Stew and Sweet Potato Donuts. (Shop ahead and cook along!)

Share with your networks!

Nourishing Communities Through Indigenous Foodways: Conversation + Cooking with NATIFS (November 5). Step inside the North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS) test kitchen for a virtual culinary experience with Culinary Director Chef Lee Garman! You'll hear how NATIFS is advancing Indigenous food education for Native youth and preserving food traditions. This event is free and open to the public.

*My working hours vary. 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

(hear my name)

pronouns: she/hers

P 231-941-6584 x 708

W groundworkcenter.org

F Groundwork Center

I groundworkcenter

You can donate to Groundwork by clicking here!

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Nutritionist or Dietitian Quote | Contact for free

Shaun is looking for Nutritionists & Dietitians

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In Mason, MI, 48854

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Deal with a medical condition, Improve health, Lose weight

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I don't know

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60 or over

What dietary requirements (if any) do you have?

Dairy-free, Gluten-free

Do you have any food allergies?

Some sensitivities

Would you consider online or remote provision?

Is this covered by your health insurance?

I'm not sure

Are you with any of these providers?

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Do you have a preference in the professional's gender?

I don't mind

Additional details:

Hasimotos Hypothyroidism Diverticulitis Some food sensitivities

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