Save the Date - 2010 National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Detroit!

Hi all,

I’m very happy to announce that the 5^th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference will be held in Detroit, MI on May 17-19^th, 2010. With the theme “Taking Root”, this conference is brought to you by the Community Food Security Coalition and the national Farm to School organization. The Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) in southwest Michigan is the local host organization for this conference, and will be coordinating the local planning for the event. Please see the attached Save the Date notice and the conference website – www.farmtocafeteriaconference.org – for more information, but be sure to check back to the website for updates as we make plans. Please do share this exciting news with your networks as well!

 

We’ll be in touch as we continue planning as we’ll certainly need your help to pull off a great conference and spotlight farm to school and farm to cafeteria projects in Michigan!

 

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

 

Farm to School Information Session at the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo

Hi all,

The Michigan Farm to School facilitators from the C.S Mott Group at MSU, FSEP in southeastern Michigan, and MLUI in northwest Michigan have put together a Farm to School Information Session for the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable, and Farm Market Expo next week at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids.

 

This Farm to School Information session will be of particular interest to Michigan farmers that are interested in capitalizing on this expanding market opportunity! Also, if you are a food service director who is ready to begin a farm to school program and would like to meet local growers at this session, please respond directly to me by email at matts@msu.edu by Friday, December 4th. Please see session details and a description below.

 

Farm to School Information Session

Wednesday, December 9^th, 2010

11:30-1 pm

Grand Gallery Room C (lower level)

 

Farm to school is growing in Michigan! With over 40 farm to school programs throughout the state and many more school food service directors interested in purchasing local foods, farm to school programs provide an expanding market opportunity for Michigan growers. Last December, Michigan lawmakers supported farm to school and local economic development by passing farm to school bills to reduce procurement barriers to expanding farm to school programs in our school cafeterias. But farm to school applies more than just the cafeteria; farm to school also includes school fundraisers that use local products and educational opportunities like school gardens, farmer visits to schools, and field trips to local farms.

The Michigan Farm to School Information Session will feature a panel discussion including farmers, school food service directors, and/or distributors involved in farm to school projects who can speak about their experiences including the benefits and challenges, and answer participants’ questions about this market opportunity. We also plan to allow time for informal discussion so that farmers can connect with local school food service directors and other farm to school resources.

 

This session will be of interest to fruit and vegetable farmers looking to diversify their markets, of any scale. Schools and school districts of varying sizes with different needs and different interests in Michigan produce (in terms of volume and crop type) are eager to connect with Michigan farmers so there are no one size fits all solutions and a wide range of farmers are needed to meet the demand. This session also applies to distributors of varying sizes who are working to supply local products to Michigan schools. Additionally, schools and local farm to school facilitators are looking for farmers who are willing and able to host school field trips and/or visit schools to share their experiences and educational lessons about their produce with students.

 

 

Please see the Great Lakes Expo website for more information about the schedule, education program, and exhibitors – www.glexpo.com.

 

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

 

SAVE THE DATE/REGISTER: Webinar on USDA Food Project Grants/Resources for Communities -- December 7, 2009 3:00 pm Eastern Time

The C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University invites you to the following webinar:

 

USDA Grants/Resources for Support to Food Projects in Communities

 

Monday, December 7, 2009 at 3:00 – 4:30 Eastern Time.

 

Moderator:

Shirley Gerrior

§         National Program Leader, Families, 4H & Nutrition; National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

 

Panelists:

§         Elizabeth Tuckermanty – National Program Leader, Competitive Programs; National Institute of Food and Agriculture

§         Community Food Projects   (CFP)

 

• Carmen Humphrey -- Branch Chief, Marketing Grants and Technical Assistance Branch; Agriculture Marketing Service

§         Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)

 

§         Etta Saltos --National Program Leader, Human Nutrition; National Institute of Food and Agriculture

§         Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI)

 

You must pre-register for this webinar:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NN3DVZP

 

If you have trouble contact Jekeia Murphy at 517-432-0308

 

 

 

USDA Awards More Than $5 Million in Grants to Support Local Foods Initiatives

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal?contentidonly=true&contentid=2009/11/0580.xml

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that more than $5 million will be awarded to 16 organizations to increase access to healthy, affordable local foods.

"Building local sustainable food systems is a key step in fighting hunger and obesity, a priority for USDA and for the Obama Administration," Vilsack said. "These grants are an important part of USDA's new 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative and put funds in low-income communities and areas of need that struggle with access to healthy, nutritious food. They are critical if we are to achieve the President's goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015 and improving the nutrition and health for all Americans."

Launched in September 2009, the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative emphasizes the need for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and consumers. 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' includes such major agricultural topics as supporting local farmers and community food groups; strengthening rural communities; enhancing direct marketing and farmers' promotion programs; promoting healthy eating; protecting natural resources; and helping schools connect with locally grown foods.

The 16 organizations receiving awards were selected through the Community Food Projects program, which is administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The current projects will fund food policy council training, urban agriculture, new farmers on preservation farmland, promotion of native food sovereignty, youth, urban and rural food production projects and community food assessments. Community Food Projects have been funded in nearly to 300 communities in 48 states during its 13-year history.

The primary goals of the Community Food Projects program are to (1) meet the food needs of low-income individuals; (2) increase the food self-reliance of low-income communities; (3) promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm and nutrition issues; and (4) meet specific state, local or neighborhood food and agricultural needs, including needs relating to infrastructure improvement and development, planning for long-term solutions and the creation of innovative marketing activities that mutually benefit agricultural producers and low-income consumers.

The FY 2009 Community Food Projects grants were awarded to:

• Food Bank of North Alabama, Huntsville, Ala., $300,000
• Community Food Bank, Inc., Tucson, Ariz., $293,215
• Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corp., Brinkely, Ark., $16,530
• Arkansas Sustainability Network, Little Rock, Ark., $26,561
• Fresno Metropolitan Ministry, Fresno, Calif., $300,000
• East Bay Asian Youth Center, Oakland, Calif., $204,937
• Mandela MarketPlace, Inc., Oakland, Calif., $285,376
• Soil Born Farm Urban Agriculture Project, Sacramento, Calif., $239,960
• International Rescue Committee, Inc., San Diego, Calif., $300,000
• Nuestras Raices, Inc., Holyoke, Mass., $170,000
• United Teen Equality Center, Lowell, Mass., $25,000
• Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, Neb., $25,000
• American Friends Service Committee, Albuquerque, N.M., $300,000
• Farm to Table, Inc., Santa Fe, N.M., $24,904
• World Hunger Year, Inc., New York, N.Y., $250,000
• The Minnesota Project, Inc., St. Paul, Minn., $25,000
• The Corporation for Findlay Market of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, $218,890
• Community Food Security Coalition, Inc., Portland, Ore., $253,243
• Community Food Security Coalition, Inc., Portland, Ore., $25,000
• The Food Trust, Philadelphia, Pa., $267,090
• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, Pa., $300,000
• Appalachian Native Plants, Inc., Mountain City, Tenn., $24,990
• Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., $25,000
• Sustainable Food Center, Austin, Texas, $25,000
• YouthLaunch, Austin, Texas, $299,972
• Solid Ground Washington, Seattle, Wash., $299,102
• Growing Power, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisc., $250,000
• Central Wisconsin Community Action Council, Inc., Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., $25,000

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Cheryl Danley
Academic Specialist
C.S. Mott  Group for Sustainable Food Systems
Dept of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies (CARRS)
Michigan State University
309 Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI. 48824-1222
Phone: (517) 432-0309 * Cell: (313)492-3496
Fax: (517) 353-3834
email: danleych@msu.edu
website: www.mottgroup.msu.edu

 

 

 

 

 

November News Bites

 

Greetings!

 

Here are the latest Farm to School news bites:

 

NEWS

 

Sponsored by the Michigan Nutrition Network, Michigan State University Extension and the C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at MSU, the Michigan Junior Chef Competition was held at Michigan State University (MSU) in September to promote healthy eating and Michigan foods. A competition summary and Flash slideshow are now posted online at the MNN website. The recipes from the student-designed school lunch meals and a short video of the competition are coming soon!  

 

“Small distributors focus on getting local produce to state’s restaurants, schools and grocery stores” Check out this story from the Detroit Free Press about Locavore Food Distributors based at Detroit Eastern Market. Locavore works with a number of schools in Michigan and Chicago to help get local produce into school meals programs!

 

“Minnesota farm to school efforts catch eye of USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan: School districts around the state embracing Farm to School program” USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan toured St. Paul Schools’ commissary to get a look at the district’s Farm to School program. St. Paul Public Schools purchased over 100,000 pounds of local produce in just the first few weeks of the school year! Read the attached PDF press release, and check out this related story - “USDA: St. Paul Public Schools ‘Pioneers’ in Farm-to-School Programs.”

 

“Local high schoolers cooking up change for their cafeterias” 15 Chicago public high schools competed in Cooking Up Change, a healthy cooking contest which challenged teams to create nutritious school lunches on a tight budget with limited ingredients and prep work. Check out a video about the competition!

 

“Spotlight on Food Service: Chartwells' Bob Bloomer redefines "fresh" for Chicago Public Schools” Bob Bloomer, regional Vice President with Chartwells in Chicago, is working with farmers and processors to extend availability of local products through flash-freezing.

 

“Vilsack still backs nutrition funding” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reaffirmed the administration’s plans to ask Congress for an additional $1 billion per year for child nutrition programs like the National School Lunch Program.

 

“USDA Backs Rewarding Schools Serving Healthy Foods” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that schools that serve more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to pupils should see higher federal support rates than those serving meals that are less healthy.

 

 

 

EVENTS

 

Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo

December 8-10, 2009

DeVos Place Convention Center and Amway Grand Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI

Check out the website for more info.

 

Farm To School Workshop for Farmers

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 from 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

Kent County Extension Office

Grand Rapids, MI

Please find the brochure and registration form attached in PDF format. Please register by December 4.

For more information, contact Kendra Wills, Land Use Educator, at (616) 336-2028.

 

Green Initiatives in School Wellness Webinar

Sponsored by the USDA Food & Nutrition Service, Midwest Region

Tuesday, December 15th from 2 PM – 3:30 PM CST

Participation is free, but registration is required by Friday, December 11th.

Click here to register: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g417fb

See attached flyer for more information! 

 

2009 Michigan Family Farms Conference

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Lakeview High School, Battle Creek, MI

See the brochure at the MIFFS website

 

Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference

Saturday, January 30, 2009 with keynote speaker, Melissa Hemmelgarn, on Friday, January 29th

Grayling High School in Grayling, MI

Find more information on the conference website.

 

Choices 2010, Collaboration: There's Room at the Table 

Wednesday, March 10 -11, 2010 in East Lansing, Michigan. 

Registration opens Jan. 11, 2010 

For more information, visit http://web7.anr.msu.edu/choices/Home.aspx

 

Farm to School: Setting the Table for Wellness

Sponsored by the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI)

Monday, March 15, 2010 at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, MI. 

For conference info visit localdifference.org/farmtoschool

See Save the Date attached for more event information!  

 

 

RESOURCES 

 

CFSC’s National Farm to College Program is happy to announce that they have redesigned their website,www.farmtocollege.org.  The site is a clearinghouse of resources and information for both new and existing farm to college projects with profiles of 140 projects from around the country.

Happy Thanksgiving,

 

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

 

 

New guidance from USDA on Geographic Preference for "Unprocessed Products"

Hi all,

I have good news to share!

 

The USDA has revised the definition of “unprocessed products” that may be purchased by schools with geographic preference (which means that school food service directors can specify for and “prefer” locally-grown or –raised agricultural products in their procurement processes). As the attached memo explains, unprocessed products which “retain their inherent character” may now include those products that have been cooled, refrigerated, frozen, peeled, sliced, diced, cut, chopped, shucked, ground, dried/dehydrated, washed, cold pasteurized, vacuum packed, bagged, butchered, and pasteurized. This greatly expands the opportunities to get local products in usable forms for school food service!

 

The definition of unprocessed products in this memo will be effective until the final rule is drafted. I’ll be sure to share that with you when I get notice of it.

 

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

 

FW: Meet the Specialty Food Producers Meet & Greet Event - Nov 11th

Greetings all,

This is just a reminder to register for this Meet the Specialty Food Producers Meet & Greet at the Making It in Michigan Conference sponsored by the MSU Product Center. The Marketplace and Meet & Greet are free of charge! Please RSVP to me by this Friday, November 6^th. (Apologies for cross-posting!)

 

Best,

Colleen

 

 

 

 

 

Hi all,

Please see a notice below and attached flyer for details on an up-coming Meet & Greet event designed to introduce Michigan institutional food service directors and buyers from colleges/universities, hospitals, K-12 schools, etc. to clients of the MSU Product Center, who produce Michigan specialty foods. Please feel free to pass this along to any institutional food service contacts you may have.

 

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

 

 

 

 

MEET THE SPECIALTY FOOD PRODUCERS!

 

This Meet & Greet event will give Michigan institutional food service directors

and buyers a chance to meet clients of

 the MSU Product Center who produce Michigan specialty food products.

 

  If you are an institutional food service director or buyer

 who is ready to incorporate locally-produced specialty food

products into your institution’s menus,

join us for this event and get connected!

 

Where: Making It In Michigan Conference

Sponsored by the MSU Product Center

Exhibit Hall at the Lansing Center
333 E Michigan Ave Lansing, MI 48933

 

When: Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

1-2:30 pm during the “General Marketplace”

 

Please RSVP to Colleen Matts at matts@msu.edu or 517.432.0310 by Friday, November 6th if you plan to attend.

The Marketplace and the Meet & Greet event are free of charge.

 

For more conference information and vendors, please see www.makingitinmichigan.msu.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

FW: Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan to Host 2nd 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Facebook Chat on Nov. 5

Hi all,
Please see the notice below about the second Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food chat which will focus on Farm to School!

Best,
Colleen

________________________________________
From: Barham, James [James.Barham@ams.usda.gov]
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 8:06 AM
To: COMFOOD@elist.tufts.edu
Subject: [COMFOOD:] Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan to Host 2nd 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Facebook Chat on Nov. 5

AGRICULTURE DEPUTY SECRETARY MERRIGAN TO HOST 2ND 'KNOW YOUR FARMER,
KNOW YOUR FOOD' FACEBOOK CHAT ON NOV. 5

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen
Merrigan will host her second Facebook chat about the 'Know Your
Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. The
topic of this chat will be farm to school, which involves getting and
using fresh produce and other farm products from local and regional
farmers for use in local schools. The effort not only supports
increasing economic opportunities for local farmers but also helps
school children make healthy food choices.

The 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative emphasizes the need
for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and
consumers. The effort builds on the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides for
increases and flexibility for USDA programs in an effort to promote
local foods.

Merrigan hosted her first Facebook chat on the initiative on Oct. 1.
Questions were submitted from people across the nation about beginning
farmer and rancher programs, interest in school nutrition, food safety
and supporting local and regional food systems. During the 30 minute
session, more than 115 questions and comments were submitted.

Details are available at www.usda.gov/live and people can submit a
question in advance of the chat or watch the conversation on the USDA
website.

The website, at www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer, features social media tools
to help focus the public conversation about farming and food, while
engaging American agriculture and linking producers to customers. The
public will be able to send their stories, ideas or videos to the 'Know
Your Farmer, Know Your Food' team at knowyourfarmer@usda.gov . The
public can become a fan of USDA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USDA.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a
complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or
call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).
USDA News
oc.news@usda.gov
202 720-4623