Urban Schools Aim for Environmental Revolution - NYTimes.com

Good article on collaboration of schools in different states for environmental and food contracts.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/02/us/urban-schools-aim-for-environmental-revolution.html?_r=1&

Michigan Farm to School News

NEWS

 

USDA Announces Projects Using Local Food to Address Hunger and Increase Access to Healthy Food
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's Community Food Project (CFP) awards. These awards support organizations using local food to develop community-based solutions to address food insecurity and increase access to healthy food in low income communities.

 

PolicyLink and The Food Trust have issued a new report, Access to Healthy Food and Why It Matters: A Review of Research, that emphasizes the health and economic benefits of healthy food access. 

 

Offer More Healthy Foods, Kids Eat More Healthy Foods from the Huffington Post

A new Michigan State University study published in the journal Childhood Obesity found that when vending programs at schools and a la carte options are primarily or entirely healthy options, "middle school aged kids ate 26 percent more fruit, 14 percent more vegetables and 30 percent more whole grains over the course of a day."

 

Homegrown by Heroes Program Launches from the Huffington Post 

Soon to be a nationwide program, the Homegrown by Heroes branding campaign labels items grown by farmers who have, or are currently, serving in the military with red, white and blue labels.

 

The videos from the 2013 Michigan Junior Chef Competition are now available on the website. The goal of the 2013 Michigan Junior Chef Competition was to provide youth participants hands-on cooking experience and knowledge of healthy and local food choices. It was made up of two parts: a Recipe Contest and a Cook-off Competition. Recipes for the Recipe Contest had to include fresh, local and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods and be practical and easy for school food service operations to offer as part of their meal programs. The top eight teams from the Recipe Contest were invited to prepare their meals on-site at the Cook-off Competition at Michigan State University on May 9^th, 2013. The competition is sponsored and hosted by the Michigan Team Nutrition, Michigan Department of Education, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and United Dairy Industries of Michigan.

 

Fresh, Local Foods Well Received by Students in Dexter Schools

See the attached press release about Dexter Community Schools’ Farm to School Month efforts, including bringing local kale into the school meals program!

 

Chicago Public Schools’ Eat What You Grow program is piloting a food safety manual that can serve as a model for other schools to make the link between the school garden and the school cafeteria.

 

Oregon Farm to School Act Could Bring More Local Food to Eugene Schools from the Eugene Daily News

The Farm to School Act “would use grant money to reimburse school districts up to 15 cents per meal for food produced or processed in Oregon.”

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools has come to the Midwest! Let's Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools is a special campaign of the United Fresh Foundation, under the umbrella of the national Let's Move Salad Bars to Schools (LMSB2S) initiative. The goal of Let's Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools is to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption by donating salad bars to schools in IL, IN, MI, MN, OH and WI. School salad bars are a great way to incorporate local food products into school meals, meet the nutrition standards and help kids develop healthier eating habits. See the attached flyer and visit www.saladbars2schools.org to complete an application for free salad bar equipment. For information about Lets Move Salad Bars to MIDWEST Schools, contact Andrew Marshall at (202) 303-3407, amarshall@unitedfresh.org or Diane Golzynski at Michigan Department of Education at (517) 373-3383, golzynskid@michigan.gov.

 

Food Network is seeking Teens for Chopped Auditions
Food Network's show Chopped is currently seeking passionate teen cooks (ages around 12-16) from the New York/Northeast, Charleston, Portland, OR and Chicago areas to compete on a future teen tournament special! For more information and to apply, please visit the Chopped auditions website.

 

2014 Youth Garden Grant

Grant Application Deadline: December 6, 2013

Since 1982, National Gardening Association has provided the Youth Garden Grant to over 5,000 schools, nonprofits, and youth programs across the United States.

 

Lowe's Charitable and Education Foundation Announces 2014 Toolbox for Education Grant Program

Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded in support of facility improvement projects that have a permanent impact on a K-12 school community.

Deadline: February 14, 2014

Posted: November 7, 2013

 

Applications open for the 2014 Organic Farmer Training Program at the MSU Student Organic Farm

This training program provides nine months of intensive instruction focusing on year-round organic farming production, including vegetables, livestock, flowers, fruits and herbs, for local markets. Participants manage all aspects of a 15-acre organic farm, including passive solar greenhouses. Merit and need-based scholarships are available. Visit the MSU SOF website for a full program description and application.

 

USDA Value Added Producer Grant Opportunity now open! Approximately $10.5 million is available through this grant opportunity to help agricultural producers participate in value-added activities. Matching funds are required. Find more information here. Grant proposals are due February 24, 2014.

 

 

EVENTS

 

EdWeb Webinar - Tools to Create Social Change Through Youth Farming and Gardening 
Tuesday, January 7, 2014 – 4pm / Eastern Time

Presented by: Greg Gale, Associate Director of Programs, VISIONS and Training Consultant, The Food Project with Johanna Gilligan, Founder and Executive Director, Grow Dat Youth Farm

 

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo

December 10 – 12^th, 2013

DeVos Center, Grand Rapids, MI

Register and find more info here.

This year, the conference program features a Farm to Institution Marketing Panel Discussion brought to you by the Ecology Center and MSU Extension on Wednesday, December 11^th at 1 pm!

 

2014 National Food Hub Conference: Building Capacity for Healthy Regional Food Systems

Hosted by the National Good Food Network

March 26-28, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina

Requests for session proposals, sponsorship and registration information is available here.

 

National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Powering Up

April 15 – 18^th

Austin, TX

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

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

 

Webinars of interest

Hi all,

Here are details for two up-coming webinars that may be of interest:

 

 

Michigan Food Hub Network Webinar featuring food hub efforts supplying institutional markets in Colorado and Iowa.

Information will also be shared about the emerging Michigan Farm to Institution Network.

 

Monday, December 2^nd at 1 pm EST

 

Presenters will include:

·         Garrett Ziegler – MSU Extension

·         Julia Erlbaum – Real Food Colorado

·         Andrew Glendenning – Weld County, Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment

·         Nick McCann – Iowa State University Extension – Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Project

 

There is no rsvp required for the webinar.  On December 2, 1:00 pm EST go to: https://connect.msu.edu/richpirog

 

 

 

Understanding Challenges and Opportunities in Minnesota's Local Meat Industry Webinar

Presented by Jan Joannides, co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Renewing the Countryside and former Endowed Chair in Agricultural Systems at the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture at University of Minnesota

Hosted by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems Livestock Work Group

 

Wednesday, December 5tth at 2:30 pm EST

 

There is no rsvp required for the webinar. On December 5^th, 2:30 pm EST go to: https://connect.msu.edu/richpirog

 

 

In both cases, if you have never attended an Adobe Connect webinar meeting before, please test your connection in advance by going to the link below. You may need to download a small, harmless plug-in and update your version of flash player.

https://connect.msu.edu/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

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

 

FW: USDA Farm to School Grant Awards Announced!

Congratulations to the Eastern UP Intermediate School District which was awarded a USDA Farm to School Grant for this school year! See below for more information and a link to a list of all selected grantees and summaries of their proposals. Special thanks to all others who submitted proposals and represented Michigan well in this very competitive national grant opportunity.

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

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

 

From: USDA Food and Nutrition Service [mailto:usda.fns@service.govdelivery.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 1:09 PM
To: Matts, Colleen
Subject: USDA Farm to School Grant Awards Announced!

 

November 19, 2013 | Volume 2, Issue 26 USDA Announces Additional Support to Help Schools Buy Local Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced grants for 71 projects spanning 42 states and the District of Columbia that support the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts to connect school cafeterias with local farmers and ranchers through its Farm to School Program.  "In rural and urban communities across the country, farm to school programs teach students where food comes from, while providing healthy foods that are grown locally on farms and ranches across the nation," said Vilsack. "These programs also create new market opportunities for local farmers and ranchers interested in partnering with nearby school districts – and by helping to create an even more diverse and thriving agriculture sector, farm to school efforts hold potential to create new jobs in rural areas."  Selected projects will serve more than 13,000 schools and 2.8 million students, nearly 45 percent of whom live in rural communities. Projects are diverse:  Somerville Public Schools in Massachusetts will work to develop a district-wide farm to school program with community partners that focus on creating youth jobs and promoting healthy eating and physical education.  Olympia School District in Washington state will partner with two local farms to help students apply biology, American history, and horticulture skills towards farm management. The farms will grow organic produce for the school district and serve as an outdoor educational space for students.  Bayfield Regional Food Producers Cooperative in Wisconsin will overcome the obstacles of a short growing season by helping local school districts install and manage high tunnels to supplement school gardens. In addition to providing nutrient-dense hardy greens and other vegetables to the students in their lunches and snacks, the high tunnels will allow educators to implement experiential, project‐based learning in the spring and fall seasons.  Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative and Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission in Iowa will work with local farmers and a newly established food hub to boost production to meet the needs of local schools. They have set a goal with four rural school districts to increase local purchases by 200 percent.  These projects highlight the critical need for a new Food, Farm and Jobs Bill now more than ever, said Vilsack. Producers need renewed and expanded access to Farm Bill programs to fuel the growing demand for local food in new markets, including school meals programs, and to increase economic opportunities for America's farmers and ranchers.  USDA Farm to School grants help schools respond to the growing demand for locally sourced foods and increase market opportunities for producers and food businesses, including food processors, manufacturers, and distributors. Grants will also be used to support agriculture and nutrition education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms, and cooking classes. For a complete list of FY14 Farm to School grant recipients, please see: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/FY_2014_Grant_Award_Summaries.pdf USDA recently released the results of the first-ever Farm to School Census, which showed that in school year 2011-2012, school districts purchased and served over $350 million in local food, with more than half of participating schools planning to purchase more local foods in the future. School districts that missed the opportunity earlier in the year to respond can submit information regarding farm to school practices through November 30, 2013.  USDA's Farm to School Program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which authorized USDA to provide grants and technical assistance to help schools gain better access to local foods. It is also a core element of the USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, which coordinates the department's work on local food systems. USDA is focused on improving childhood nutrition and empowering families to make healthier food choices by providing science-based information and advice, while expanding the availability of healthy food. America's students now have healthier and more nutritious school meals due to improved nutrition standards implemented as a result of the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. USDA's MyPlate symbol and the resources at ChooseMyPlate.gov provide quick, easy reference tools for parents, teachers, healthcare professionals and communities. USDA awarded $5.2 million in grants to provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition food service professionals and support stronger school nutrition education programs. Collectively these policies and actions are helping to combat child hunger and obesity, while improving the health and nutrition of the nation's children. For more information on the Farm to School program, please visit www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool.  Learn more at http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool or contact us at farmtoschool@fns.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. This email was sent to matts@msu.edu using GovDelivery, on behalf of: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · 3101 Park Center Drive · Alexandria, VA 22302 · 800-439-1420

FW: School and Youth Garden Grants - Upcoming Deadlines

FYI!

 

School and Youth Garden Grants
A new posting from Julia Parker-Dickerson (Director of Youth Education Programs, National Gardening Association)

Hello!  I'm the Youth Education Programs Director at the National Gardening Association, a 501c3.  This year we have a number of open grant programs that can help to start or sustain an established garden.  We have 150 awards open to schools, youth groups, and community gardens at present and more expected to open as the year goes on!  We are offering 50 of our awards to any and all international garden programs as well as United States based youth gardens.  I have included links directly to applications below. You can also visit: http://grants.kidsgardening.org/

 

2013 Healthy Sprouts: Applications due November 15th, 2013

For the fifth year, the Subaru of America Foundation and National Gardening Association are proud to present the Subaru Healthy Sprouts Award. In 2013, 50 youth and school gardens will be awarded funding and supplies to begin or sustain programming. 47 programs will receive a $500 award package, 3 top winners will receive $1,500 awards.

 

2014 Youth Garden Grant Award: Applications due Due December 6th, 2013

National Gardening Association is proud to announce the 2014 Youth Garden Grant award. This year’s award is brought to you by supporters of the National Gardening Association and generous contributions from Ames True Temper, High Mowing Seeds, Rustic Cedar, and Bonnie Plants, who will be supplying materials to the award winners. Twenty award winners will receive $1,000 in supplies and funding.

 

2014 Muhammad Ali Center Peace Garden Grant: Applications due January 17th, 2014

Now in its fourth year, the Muhammad Ali Center Peace Garden Grant will provide 50 programs, in the United States and internationally, funding and supplies to begin or sustain garden programming for youth. To date, over 150 programs in 13 countries around the world have been awarded.

 

2014 Mantis Tiller Award: Applications Due March 7th, 2014

Mantis and Kidsgardening.org proudly present the 2014 Mantis Tiller Awards! For the past 18 years, this program has provided 25 tillers to gardening programs across the United States. In the past, winners have included schools, churches, correctional facilities, parks departments, youth camps, community gardens, and many others.

 

 

MI Farm to School Training in the UP!

The MI Farm to School Training is going to the UP! This training is intended for K-12 school food service professionals and early care program directors and staff alike, whether you are just getting started with Farm to School or expanding your program. Training topics will include an overview of Michigan Farm to School, how and where to find and purchase Michigan products, developing a Farm to School team, food safety, expanding Farm to School beyond produce and beyond lunch, and more! Time will also be dedicated for attendees to learn about local food happenings and resources and to network with and learn from each to other.

 

WHEN: Tuesday, December 3^rd from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

WHERE: Peter White Library at 217 N Front St in Marquette, MI

Lunch will be provided.

Please RSVP to the Chippewa County MSU Extension Office at 906-635-6368 by Tuesday, November 26^th.

 

This training is brought to you by the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, MSU Extension, UP Food Exchange, Marquette Food Co-op, Western UP Health Department and the Sault Tribe Community Transformation Grant.

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

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

 

Michigan Farm to School News

NEWS

 

They’re here! The first ever USDA Farm to School Census results of public school districts were released last week! Thanks to you school food service directors who responded. The results from the census are now live and can be found at http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census.            

 

·         From a national perspective, USDA estimates that 43% of public school districts across the country have an existing Farm to School Program in place, while another 13% of school districts surveyed are committed to launching a Farm to School Program in the near future. Additionally, in School Year 2011-2012, schools purchased and served over $350 million in local food! Attached are two informative documents that detail much of the national success of the Farm to School Program.

·         Michigan had an overall response rate of 52%. Of those that responded, 40% of public school districts are currently participating in Farm to School activities. USDA estimates that local purchases in our state are valued at approximately $4,404,768. Please remember these statistics reflect only self-reported data. 

·         To be sure your school district has successfully completed the census, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/census. To find your school district, start at our state & district section, click on the state of Michigan, and then click on the “Explore MI School Districts” button at either the top or bottom of the state summary page. If you did not have a chance to complete the census earlier this spring, USDA is accepting submissions until November 30. Please simply email Matt Benson at matthew.benson@fns.usda.gov and let him know that you would like to complete it. Let’s use the next month to show off Farm to School in Michigan and boost that number a bit! 

 

As National Farm to School Month comes to a close, here are a few news items showing off Michigan projects featuring Michigan foods!

·         Kale Chips for 8000 and Other Farm-to-school Successes by the Numbers from the Huffington Post features Michigan’s own Dan Gorman, the Food Service Director at Montague & Whitehall Schools!

·         Leelanau County schools celebrate Farm to School Month from the Glen Arbor Sun

·         To celebrate Food Day on October 24^th, Cherry Capital Foods distributor asked school kids and others to take a bite out of Michigan apples at the same time with the Michigan Apple Crunch! More than 74,000 people across the state participated! Here’s news coverage from the Traverse City Record Eagle and attached you’ll find a press release about a Michigan FoodCorps member’s efforts to help school kids in Flint and Detroit take a bite out of Michigan apples.  

 

Earlier this month, MLUI and the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District in northwest Lower Michigan launched a regional initiative to provide schools with more locally grown fruits and veggies. The  10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms program supports one of the agenda priorities of the Michigan Good Food Charter to provide additional reimbursements to schools to purchase more locally grown fruits and veggies for school meals programs.

 

On the heels of the release of the national food hubs survey report from the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and the Wallace Center at Winrock International comes this article from DBusiness about food hub development in southeast Michigan.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

The USDA is hiring Regional Farm to School Coordinators! Positions will be based in San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Boston and Robbinsville, New Jersey. Click here to learn more and apply. The application period closes November 1^st.

Boyne Falls Public School, which is a MI Farm to School Grantee this year, is hiring an Assistant Cook. See the attached job posting for more information.

The 7th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Powering Up will convene more than 1,000 diverse stakeholders from across the farm to cafeteria movement who are working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of food and agricultural literacy across America. The conference will take place April 15-18, 2014 in Austin, Texas. We need your ideas, expertise and energy to make this conference a success! Submit your proposal for a workshop, poster or lightning talk by November 8. For full details and information, download the official request for proposals.

North Central Region SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Farmer Rancher Grant call for proposals is now available. Proposals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. CST, November 14, 2013.  Word |  PDF |  Text

Food Safety Modernization Act Action
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has an informative website about FSMA (the Food Safety and Modernization Act) and how to submit a comment to the Act by November 15th. You can access the full proposed rule language here. If you can, take a few minutes RIGHT NOW to submit a comment to FDA either online or through the mail.

ING Unsung Heroes Award Program invites K-12 educators to apply for 2014 class project awards. Each year, 100 educators who are using new teaching methods and techniques to improve learning are selected to receive awards of $2,000 each to help fund innovative class projects. Applications are due by April 30^th, 2014.

 

EVENTS

 

LunchBites Webinar: Farm to Food Bank to School: An Emerging Model in Communities Across the Country
Tuesday, November 12th, 2013 at 1pm EST
Register Here for this webinar hosted by the National Farm to School Network

In many communities across the country, food banks are emerging as community food hubs, connecting local farms to other markets, including schools. Some food banks are engaged in other farm to school activities including experiential farm education. Join us for the November LunchBites webinar to hear from individuals who are leading this model at their local food banks.

 

Making It in Michigan: Michigan’s Premier Specialty Food Show

Hosted by the MSU Product Center

November 12^th, 2013 at the Lansing Center

Register here

 

Women in Sustainable Ag Conference

Registration is now open for the 4th National Conference for Women in Sustainable Agriculture

Nov. 6 – 8^th in Des Moines, IA

 

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo

December 10 – 12^th, 2013

DeVos Center, Grand Rapids, MI

Register and find more info here

This year, the conference program features a Farm to Institution Marketing Panel Discussion brought to you by the Ecology Center and MSU Extension on Wednesday, December 11^th at 1 pm!

 

National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Powering Up

April 15 – 18^th

Austin, TX

 

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist | Michigan Lead for National Farm to School Network

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd | Rm 303 Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517.432.0310

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