FW: THE RENEGADE LUNCH LADY

Greetings all,

You may be interested in checking out this radio show tomorrow (12 pm EST) featuring chef and farm to school advocate and practitioner, Ann Cooper.

 

Enjoy the weekend,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

From: listener-bounces@lists.got.net [mailto:listener-bounces@lists.got.net] On Behalf Of Michael Olson
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 10:17 AM
To: listener@lists.got.net
Subject: THE RENEGADE LUNCH LADY

 

A FOOD CHAIN RADIO RELEASE FROM METROFARM.COM

Fish sticks, tater tots, and sloppy joes…  If we are what we eat, then what have school lunches allowed us to become?  And looking to our future…

Can schools serve good food in hard times?

This Saturday at 9am Pacific, Michael Olson’s Food Chain Radio hosts author, chef and Renegade Lunch Lady Ann Cooper for a conversation about the great American school lunch.

Topics include the economic and political ingredients of the typical school lunch; how some schools are bringing fresh, local foods into the cafeteria; and why some believe the school lunch to be the social justice issue of our time. 

Listen on your radio, computer or IPOD: Food Chain Radio

"Market in the Park" events at State Parks in Sept

Please share the message below with any farmers or specialty food/ag
producers that may be interested.

Thanks!

Dear Michigan Agriculture Product/Specialty Food Producer:

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) are seeking Michigan food and agriculture companies to
showcase their products at two Select Michigan "Market in the Park"
events this fall. The farmers market style events will be held 10 am -
6 pm, Saturday, September 19, at Sterling State Park in Monroe; and
Saturday, September 26, at Van Buren State Park in South Haven.

This is the first year the two departments have partnered on events
that combine the promotion of food and agriculture businesses in
Michigan with enjoyment of our state's natural treasures - its state
parks.

The markets will be held in conjunction with annual harvest festivals
at the state parks, and with other special activities, including a wine
tasting tent and an eco-friendly music festival. You can participate at
one or both of the markets. All products sold must be Michigan grown,
processed or manufactured food and/or agriculture products. All
processed foods sold must be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen.

Vendor space is open to any Michigan grower, specialty food processor
or non-food agricultural product producer (wool, herb or soy-based
products, etc.). Cost per space is $25 for each event, which includes a
daily pass into the park for one vehicle. All vendors MUST be set up
and ready to serve customers by 10 a.m. on the day of the market. MDA
and DNR can not be responsible for any loss incurred by vendors during
the show.

Parking is near by, so set-up should be relatively easy. The setting
for the market is beautiful, near the beach at both state parks.

An application form and contract are attached, along with information
on show rules and show hours. Deadline for reserving vendor space is
Wednesday, September 9.

We have already begun to promote this event and expect a great response
to the show. I look forward to working with you at the Markets in the
Parks to promote your Michigan products and business. See you at the
parks!

Sincerely,

Jeanne M. Hausler
Agricultural Tourism & Outreach Manager
Michigan Department of Agriculture
Fairs, Exhibitions & Racing Division
P.O. Box 30017
Lansing, MI 48909
517/373-9790
517/242-2961 cell
517/241-4217 fax
hauslerj@michigan.gov
www.michigan.gov/mda

Farm to School Meet & Greet

Hi all,

This is just a reminder to be sure to register by this Friday, August 7^th if you’d like to attend the Farm to School Meet & Greet on August 10^th in East Lansing. Please help spread the word, especially to local farmers!

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farmers and school food service directors, please join us for a Michigan Farm to School Meet & Greet!

 

This Meet & Greet event will give school food service directors and farmers a chance to meet each other and develop farm to school programs in their areas. School food service directors from Calhoun, Ingham, and Oakland Counties, among others, are expected to attend.

 

If you are a school food service director who is ready to bring local foods into  your school meals program or a farmer interested in selling your products to local schools, please join us for this event and get connected!

 

Where: Community Room at MSU Federal Credit Union

600 Crescent Rd., East Lansing, MI

 

When: Monday, August 10^th, 2009

1-3 pm

 

The Meet & Greet will be followed by an optional tour from 3:30 – 5 pm of the Student Organic Farm (3291 College Rd in Holt, MI) and its six hoophouses with Outreach Coordinator Adam Montri.

 

Space is limited! To register for this event, please contact me at matts@msu.edu or 517.432.0310 by Friday, August 7^th.

 

 

Feel free to pass along this notice or the attached flyer!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

 

FW: Organic Farmer Training Program Accepting Applications for 2010 (please forward)

 

 

Now excepting applications for 2010 Cohort of the

Organic Farmer Training Program

@ the Michigan State University Student Organic Farm!!!!!!

 

The Organic Farmer Training Program is a 9 month intensive training program in year round organic farming focusing on diversified production of vegetables, flowers, fruits and herbs for local markets. Students engage in the management of the 10 acre certified organic farm including passive solar greenhouses used for year round production in cold climates and heated only by the sun. Students also engage in the management of SOF garden and field production for the farm?s primary markets, including a 48week CSA, 6 month on campus farm stand, and sales to campus dinning services. Students develop competencies in farm skills through skills trainings and by engaging in the day to day work and operation of the farm. Hands-on training is combined with workshops, lectures, readings, and assignments that build participants? knowledge and understanding of organic farming principles and practices. The program is designed to give participants a strong background in production skills as well as the knowledge, management, and decision making skills necessary to operate a diversified small farm. 

Program participants include new and beginning farmers, urban and community farmers and gardeners, educators, and those interested in local or organic agriculture.

 

Program Dates for 2010 are March 1^st to November 19^th for this full time intensive program

 

Space is limited

Rolling admissions

Application review begins Sept 1.

 

See attached flyer for more information

Visit our website for full program description and application

www.msuorganicfarm.org

 

or contact us at msufarm@msu.edu

517-230-7987

Jeremy Moghtader
MSU Student Organic Farm
Organic Farming Training Program
www.msuorganicfarm.org
Farm 517-230-7987
Campus 517-355-5191 ext 1411

Farm to School Meet & Greet

 

Farmers and school food service directors, please join us for a Michigan Farm to School Meet & Greet!

 

This Meet & Greet event will give school food service directors and farmers a chance to meet each other and develop farm to school programs in their areas. School food service directors from Calhoun, Ingham, and Oakland Counties, among others, are expected to attend.

 

If you are a school food service director who is ready to bring local foods into  your school meals program or a farmer interested in selling your products to local schools, please join us for this event and get connected!

 

Where: Community Room at MSU Federal Credit Union

600 Crescent Rd., East Lansing, MI

 

When: Monday, August 10^th, 2009

1-3 pm

 

The Meet & Greet will be followed by an optional tour from 3:30 – 5 pm of the Student Organic Farm (3291 College Rd in Holt, MI) and its six hoophouses with Outreach Coordinator Adam Montri.

 

Space is limited! To register for this event, please contact me at matts@msu.edu or 517.432.0310 by Friday, August 7^th.

 

 

Feel free to pass along this notice or the attached flyer!

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Clarkston Community Schools produce bid

Hi all,

I wanted to pass along Clarkston Community Schools’ request for bids for fruits and vegetables for all of the local growers and vendors that may be interested in this market opportunity. Note that bids must be submitted by noon on August 11^th. Please direct any questions to Janet Allen, Nutrition Supervisor at Clarkston Community Schools; her contact information is included in the attached letter.

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Michigan Farm to School News

Greetings,

Here are the latest Michigan Farm to School news bites:

NEWS

Child Nutrition Reauthorization of 2009: Every five years or so, our lawmakers work to reauthorize the federal Child Nutrition Programs, which include the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Summer Food Service Program and the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), among others. Attached is a summary of bills that have been introduced as part of the up-coming Child Nutrition Reauthorization, compiled by Megan Elsener Lott with the Community Food Security Coalition. This list will be updated as additional bills are introduced.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has released the National School Lunch, Special Milk, and School Breakfast Programs Reimbursement Rates for the 2009-2010 school year. Reimbursement rates for “paid” meals increased slightly, but free and reduced price meals reimbursements increased by more than $.10 from the 2008-2009 school year’s rates.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Senator Debbie Stabenow(D-MI) and Representative Mark Schauer (D-MI) met with Michigan residents at the Country Mill in Charlotte, Michigan on July 13. This stop is part of a series of town hall meetings on Secretary Vilsack’s Rural Tour. The proposed Food Safety Enhancement Act (HR 2759) was one topic of conversation. Check out a video of the event at the Sustainable Farmer website!

Federal Program to Receive More Funding to Increase Schools’ Access to Fresh Produce: As part of the 2008 Farm Bill, funding for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides daily healthy snacks in schools separate from the school meals program, is set to increase. To learn more about the program in Michigan, visit the Michigan Department of Education’s website.

Glyen Holmes, the Executive Director of the New North Florida Cooperative, provided testimony to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry in the United States Senate about the benefits of Farm to School Programs. Please see the attachment to read the testimony.

 

EVENTS

 

12^th Annual Detroit Agriculture Network Garden Bus & Bike Tour of Urban Farms and Gardens

Sponsored by the Detroit Agriculture Network

August 5^th, 2009

Tour begins at the Catherine Ferguson Academy, 2750 Selden in Detroit.

Register today by contacting Ashley Atkinson at 313-237- 8736 or via email at aatkinson@umich.edu.

Please see the attachment for more details!

 

Select Michigan Farmers Market on the Capitol Lawn

Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS)

East Lawn of the Capitol building in Lansing

July 23^rd, 2009

10 am – 3 pm

See the flyer attached

 

Best,

Colleen Matts

Farm to School Specialist

CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

Michigan State University

303 Natural Resources Building

East Lansing, MI 48824-1222

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu