MI Farm to School News

Hello Network!

I hope you all had a wonderful first couple days of June. It certainly is starting to feel like summer. Kick your weekend off with this week's news – a really great article in Petoskey News that's a few weeks old, but I got wind this week that it's inspiring some other schools to follow suit!

News

"Try-It Tuesdays" Promote Healthy Eating in Schools

Petoskey News

A group of parents and community members have came together and developed a program that allows students to taste, learn and give feedback on the produce that is given to them. 

Michigan Schools Recognized for Promoting Healthy Lifestyles 

Michigan Chronicle 

55 Michigan schools are being recognized for fostering healthy eating, physical activity habits, and tobacco-free lifestyles among more than 24,000 students.

Events

Webinar: Farm toECE: Engaging Parents in Farm to ECE programs 

June 14, 2017 1:00 PM ET

The last in our 2016-2017 MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series! This one is cohosted with Angela Lugo-Thomas from Keep Growing Detroit and will cover their strategies for engaging parents in early childhood gardens! You can catch up on all the recordings as well!

2017 All About Food: From Farm  to Fork Conference 

Macomb County Community College University Center

June 6, 2017 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

The Macomb Food Systems Collaborative has created a one-day conference for people who grow, produce, process, market, distribute, prepare or eat food.Register now 

Webinar: Measuring the Impact of School Gardens

Tuesday June 6, 2017 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Hear how and why School Garden Support Organizations across the nation measure the impact of school garden programming. Learn a wide range of assessment tools and strategies from different organizations.

Michigan June 2017 Nutrition Conference

June 21,2017 8:20 AM – June 23, 2017 5:00 PM EDT

Get excited! This year there's annual June conference is jam packed with local foods! Start out with the Cultivate Michigan Bean Tour on Tuesday, June 20, and join us for a CACFP focused seasonal menu planning workshop and a local food purchasing rules and regulations workshop. So much local! Register by June 6 

School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute

January 21-26, 2018 in Santa Cruz, CA

Join School Garden Support Organizations from across the nation to strength your organization's goal of enhancing professional development and ongoing support for school garden programs in your region. Apply by July 20 here

Resources

Webinar: Farm to Summer: Incorporating Local Foods into Summer Food Service Programs

It's almost summer, and what better time to look back at our Farm to Summer webinar from last year! Learn about some programs in action and how you can capitalize on Michigan's peak growing season in your summer food service program! 

Webinar Recording: Farm to Early Childhood:Building the Movement through Multi-Sector Partnerships

Learn and explore how state agencies, in partnership with the business sector, nonprofits and early childhood providers, can support expansion of farm to ECE practices and programs.

Best,

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

[News Release] MSU Center for Regional Food Systems Appoints Jude Barry Assistant Director

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Contact: Andrea Sexton, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems: (517) 432-0283, sextona1@msu.edu

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2017

 

 

 

 

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems Appoints Jude Barry Assistant Director

 

East Lansing, Michigan – The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) announces the appointment of an Assistant Director: Judith Barry. Barry began as Assistant Director effective May 1, 2017.

 

As assistant director, Barry will initiate and coordinate the Center's advisory board as well as support Director Rich Pirog in developing the Center's strategic direction. She is driven to be part of a good food system that meets market demand, is rooted in community and cultural diversity and incorporates all types of local and regional agricultural growers, processors and producers: small, large and all in between.

 

"It became clear as CRFS developed its new strategic plan that we needed administrative support to best realize the plan's goals," said Pirog, "Jude Barry brings a unique set of skills and thinking to CRFS that will serve well in providing this administrative support."

 

Barry has led collaborative research and outreach at CRFS since 2012. Her work currently includes meat and livestock systems and supporting evaluation of the Michigan Good Food Fund. Previously, Barry co-coordinated initiatives within the Michigan Good Food Charter.

 

Barry has 20 years of experience in agricultural business development, marketing, education and outreach roles in industry and academia in Michigan, England and New York state. She earned her BSc in Agricultural Science (Animal Science) from Edinburgh University, UK and her PhD in Applied Biochemistry from The University of Nottingham, UK.

 

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The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) engages the people of Michigan, the United States and the world in developing regionally integrated sustainable food systems. CRFS extends MSU's pioneering legacy of applied research, education and outreach by catalyzing collaboration and fostering innovation among the diverse range of people, processes and places involved in regional food systems. Our vision is a thriving economy, equity and sustainability for Michigan, the country and the planet through food systems rooted in local regions and centered on Good Food: food that is healthy, green, fair and affordable. Learn more at http://foodsystems.msu.edu and connect on Twitter and Facebook: @MSUCRFS.

 

 

-- 

Andrea C. Sexton 

Director of Communications

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Road, Room 309 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(517) 432-0283

foodsystems.msu.edu

 

facebook.com/MSUCRFS   

twitter.com/MSUCRFS  

Farm to ECE Webinar Series continues today at 1 pm!

Greetings network -

Don't miss the 11th in our MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series, starting in less than an hour! In just 15 minutes you'll walk away with easy ideas you can integrate into your farm to ECE program, all in less time than it takes you to eat lunch!

Register her: https://msu.zoom.us/webinar/register/d53133f4492023e6cde7dc3c8da9331e

Farm to ECE Lesson Plans

Today, May 31 at 1:00 pm

The 11th in the MI Farm to ECE Webinar Series, this webinar will cover some easy tips to start integrating local foods into your early childhood lesson plans and activities. Join to learn about resources available, easy places to start, and learn about what other programs are doing!

Best,

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

Reminder: Registration for 2017 All About Food Conference closes May 30!

Registration for the Macomb Food Collaborative's All About Food Conference closes May 30!

The event will be held at Macomb Community College University Center on Tuesday, June 6^th from 8am – 4pm. Register at http://macombfood.org

 

The conference will feature an exciting line-up of keynote and breakout speakers, with topics for everyone engaged in the food system. There will be six school food and garden focused sessions this year, so lots of opportunities to support your programming and get more local food into your schools and early childhood programs! See macombfood.org for session descriptions and information on the keynote speaker panel.

 

 Registration rates and deadlines are as follows:

·         $30 Regular registration through May 30

·         $25 Student registration rate through May 30

 

Scholarships are available. Contact info@macombfood.org for more information or to request an application.

This event is organized by the Macomb Food Collaborative and is sponsored by Ethel's Edibles, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development, and Henry Ford Health Systems.

Please contact info@macombfood.org for more information or with any questions.

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

Upcoming Farm to Child Care Webinar

Greetings all!

 

Wanted to make you aware of this upcoming credited webinar that I will be leading with Amanda Gallaher from ACD! Please join us to learn more about incorporating Farm to ECE into your program!

 

Farm to Child Care: Getting Started (1 credit)

May 31st, 7:00-8:00pm ET REGISTER HERE

 

This webinar will provide an introduction to Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) and how to incorporate activities into your child care home or center. Farm to ECE centers around buying and using fresh, local foods in child care and early education programs. Farm to ECE can include activities such as children's gardens, educational activities and farm field trips.

 

Presented by Abby Harper, Farm to School Specialist, and Amanda Gallaher, ACD Registered Dietitian

Free and open to the public

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

MI Farm to School News

Greetings all!

 

It's been a few weeks since I've sent out news, and my apologies! I've been working with some national partners to expand awareness of farm to ECE at some really wonderful conferences, and it's been refreshing to see how many places farm to ECE has come up! People are all a-buzz about gardens, local food purchasing, and making connections with agriculture. I love it, and it's been wonderful to see so many of you!

This week's news is coming on a Tuesday, and chock full of awesome news about I've highlighted a couple of time sensitive opportunities below that I think you might find valuable!  

 

Resources

 

Creating Culturally Relevant Farm to ECE Programs

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

If you missed the last in our MI Farm to ECE mini-webinar series, be sure to catch us here! Learn some tips for how farm to ECE programs can help you create more culturally relevant early childhood programs. The next webinar is coming up on May 31 at 1 pm , and highlights opportunities to create farm to ECE curriculum!

 

Office of Community Food Systems Farm to School Resources

USDA

The USDA Office of Community Food Systems has updated their resources for procuring local food! Be sure to check out their wealth of guides, fact sheets, and webinars to learn more

 

CACFP Meal Pattern Training Tools

USDA

The new CACFP meal pattern is coming, and these four infographics will help you successfully update your menus to align with the new meal pattern.

 

GREEN Tool offers evidence-based guidance for school garden success

Lehman College

This is one of the first evidence-based guides for planting and nurturing sustainable school gardens, including characteristics of gardens that help to play an enduring role in the life of the school.

 

Opportunities

 

!!!Webinar: Garden to Cafeteria Toolkit Launch

May 18, 4 pm EST

Slow Food USA has assembled a Garden to Cafeteria (GTC) toolkit to assist a school district in developing the necessary food safety protocols, training workshops, and partnerships to launch their own GTC program.

 

Jobs

 

!!!Real Food Challenge: Development Manager

Third Sector New England- Due by May 18, 2017

The largest student movement in the country fighting for food justice and a sustainable food economy is looking for a leader that will help expand the movement for food justice across our generation. Apply here.

 

News

Some excellent news articles this week for your reading pleasure!

 

Hey Kids, Salt Stays and Grains Go in School Meals

AP News

Under changes to federal nutrition standards announced on Monday, schools won't have to cut more salt from meals just yet and some will be able to serve kids fewer whole grains.

 

4 Not-So-Easy Ways to Dismantle Racism in the Food System

Yes! Magazine 

This article visually explains different ways racism plays out in our food system. It also contains two solutions for each of them—some of the systemic changes we'd need to fully address and take action on.

 

"Try-It Tuesdays" Promote Healthy Eating in Schools

Petoskey News

A group of parents and community members have come together in Petoskey and developed a farm-to-school program that allows students to taste, learn and give feedback on the produce that is given to them. 

 

Farm to Early Care and Education in Pennsylvania: A Promising Start with Room for Growth

The Food Trust 

This report provides information on early successes of farm to ECE activities in Pennsylvania, and summarizes expertise, ideas and thoughts on how to move farm to ECE forward.

 

How the quality of school lunches affects students' academic performance

Brookings Institute

This story looks at how school nutrition impacts educational achievement, focusing on the quality of food served. In years when a school contracts with a healthy lunch company, students at the school score better on end-of-year academic tests.

 

Are your kids passionate about food? Here's how they can make a difference

Associated Press

Some fun facts on how kids can take action to make a difference in their food system!

 

 

Best, and have a wonderful week!

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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

Reminder: MI Farm to ECE Webinar Today!

Today is the 10^th in the MI Farm to ECE Mini Webinar Series! Join Abby Harper and Kaitlin Wojciak to learn about ways to create culturally relevant and inclusive farm to ECE programs. Or catch up on the first 9 webinars here http://foodsystems.msu.edu/resources/farm-to-ece-webinar-series

May 10, 2017 1:00 pm -  Creating Culturally Relevant Farm to ECE Programs
Food and culture are linked, and farm to ECE programs can be tools in celebrating cultural diversity. Learn about how Farm to ECE efforts support culturally relevant programs. This is the tenth segment in the Farm to ECE Webinar Series.

Please register here

 

Abby Harper

Farm to School Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

480 Wilson Rd Rm 309 | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-432-4525 (f) 517-353-3834

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