FW: Scholarships Available for Farm to Cafeteria Conference

FYI, if you’re interested in attending the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Burlington, VT in August!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

From: National Farm to School Network [mailto:chelsey@farmtoschool.org]
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 5:29 PM
To: Matts, Colleen
Subject: Scholarships Available for Farm to Cafeteria Conference

 

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Scholarships Available for Farm to Cafeteria Conference   The 6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Digging In! is now accepting scholarship applications! The application deadline is May 31, and award notifications will be made on June 18. In addition to scholarships, a limited number of volunteer positions are also available. Visit the conference website for more information or to  fill out an application. Conference registration will open May 7.   The conference will bring representatives from all sectors of Farm to Cafeteria to Burlington, Vermont August 2-5 for four days of education, conversations and fun. There will be skill-building short courses, field trips to innovative Vermont farms and institutions, a diverse workshop program, and plenty of opportunities to network with inspiring individuals from across the country.   The Farm to Cafeteria movement is shaped by diverse communities across the country and beyond. Conference events and workshops will reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences, with participants coming from culturally and geographically diverse locales. We hope to see you there!      The conference is hosted by the National Farm to School Network in collaboration with the local host, Vermont Food Education Every Day (VT FEED).

 

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FW: USDA Releases Farm to School Grant Program Applications

Hi all,

Please see more info below about the new USDA Farm to School grant program!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

From: National Farm to School Network [mailto:chelsey@farmtoschool.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 4:38 PM
To: Matts, Colleen
Subject: USDA Releases Farm to School Grant Program Applications

 

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

 

USDA releases Farm to School grant program applications      Today the USDA released the request for applications (RFA) for the new Farm to School grant program. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 established funding for grants to support the planning and implementation of Farm to School programs. In this first funding cycle, USDA anticipates awarding up to $3.5 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.       Read more about the grant process and download the RFA here.   Grant funds will be made available on a competitive basis, subject to availability of Federal funds. Applicants are encouraged to first submit a letter of intent and then apply for either a planning grant or an implementation grant. Planning grants are expected to range from $20,000 - $45,000 and represent approximately 25 percent of the total awards. Implementation grants are expected to range from $65,000 - $100,000 and represent approximately 75 percent of the total awards. Both grant types require at least a 25 percent funding match.         Important dates: May 15, 1 p.m. EST -  Webinar (implementation grants) May 17, 1 p.m. EST -  Webinar (planning grants) May 18 - Letter of Intent Deadline (suggested) June 15 -  Applications Due For information about USDA webinars and other updates, be sure to sign up for the USDA Farm to School Listserve.     If you have questions about the grant process, contact: Deborah Kane, 503-326-2010 National Director, Farm to School Program, Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) or Gregory Walton, 703-305-1575 Grants Management Specialist, FNS        The National Farm to School Network supports the work of local Farm to School programs all over the country by providing free training and technical assistance, information services, networking, and support for policy, media and marketing. NFSN is a project of Tides Center..

 

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Re: Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

To all interested!

The MSU Center for Regional Food Systems will host a MI Farm to School Grant Program Info Session this Friday, April 20, 2012 at 9am in room 221 of the Natural Resources building AND next Friday afternoon, April 27, 2012 at 3pm in room 152 of the Natural Resources building at Michigan State University. Please feel free to bring your questions, ideas and concerns about the MI Farm to School Grant Program and/or the planning and implementation applications to explore and address together! These sessions will also be available to join online at: http://csmottgroup.adobeconnect.com/infosession_2012/. The online meeting room is limited to 100 guests so we will start accepting guests into the meeting room promptly and only the first 100 will be able to join. Both sessions will be recorded and saved on the website (www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu) for future reference!

I look forward to speaking with you soon!

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu 

From: Jekeia Murphy <stilljek@anr.msu.edu>
Date: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 17:17:52 -0400
To: Jekeia Murphy <stilljek@anr.msu.edu>
Cc: "Matts, Colleen" <matts@anr.msu.edu>
Subject: Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

FYI…this went out on several list servs today. Please feel free to share to forward to your colleagues and networks. 

Announcing the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!

 

Food service directors must often work through numerous challenges to start or expand farm to school programs. The goal of the MI Farm to School Grant Program is to help overcome some of these challenges, and initiate and expand farm to school programs across the state.

 

With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MI Farm to School Grant Program was able to award EIGHT Michigan K-12 schools/districts with funds to plan for or implement farm to school programs in 2011.  The second grant program year is September 1, 2012 – June 1, 2013, early childcare programs are eligible to apply for planning grants.

 

·         The MI Farm to School Planning Grant will help schools and early childcare programs plan for integrating fresh, local foods into cafeterias AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Action Plan to implement a farm to school program after the grant year.

·         The MI Farm to School Implementation Grant will help schools put existing farm to school plans into action AND ultimately develop a Farm to School Sustainability Plan to keep a farm to school program going and growing in future years.

Eligibility:

·         A goal of this program is to help vulnerable children find more healthy and local food choices in school meals programs. K-12 school food service programs must have at least 50% free and reduced-price meal enrollment and at least 50% of early childcare program participants must be eligible to receive Tier I reimbursement rates at the time this application is completed.

 

·         Only school food service/nutrition directors can apply for their school district(s) or school(s). Food service directors from a school district may choose to focus on a few school buildings or an entire school district's food service program, but the district must have 50% free and reduced price meal enrollment. Private or charter schools may apply as an individual school.

·         Only one application for either the planning or implementation grant (not both) is allowed per district or private/charter school per grant year. 

 

Please review the application materials and sample grant applications attached for more information. You can also find these materials on our website athttp://www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu/index.php?id=48. 

 

To be reviewed, complete applications must be received by 5 pm EST on Friday, May 4^th, 2012. Email completed application as an attachment to Jekeia Murphy at stilljek@msu.edu.

 

 

Best,

 

Jekeia 

--

Jekeia Murphy
Academic Specialist

Center for Regional Food Systems

 (formerly C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

Michigan State University
480 Wilson Road

309 Natural Resources bldg.
East Lansing, MI  48824
P: 517-432-0308
F: 517-353-3834
stilljek@msu.edu 

Think LOCAL and THRIVE!

Hello Michigan Farm to School Community, 

Please take a read this important Farm Bill action alert and call your Senators! 

Melissa Hornaday, Great Lakes Organizer
Organic Farming Research Foundation
313-525-2372

melissa@ofrf.org
www.ofrf.org

Join the OFRF Action Network Today! http://ofrf.org/action/action.html

To view this email as a web page, go here.

Some of the most innovative entrepreneurs are right in your community - organic farmers. Please make a quick phone call for them, TODAY! The Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act is a bill currently being debated in Congress that creates jobs and spurs economic growth in your community. The bill will provide access to organic food, build infrastructure, and open new markets for organic farmers and ranchers. Both of your Senators must sign and support this important bill! Please call your Senators and tell them: "I support local, organic farmers, and I want good food and more jobs in my community. Please co-sponsor the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act today!" Hey - pick up the phone now. It's easy! Call Senator Carl Levin's office at (202) 224-6221. Call Senator Debbie Stabenow's office at (202) 224-4822. * Is your representatives information not showing here?   Visit http://whoismyrepresentative.com/ to find your representative's phone number. Want more information on the bill? Check it out here. On behalf of organic farmers, we thank you. Maureen Wilmot Executive Director P.S. VOTE for OFRF! CREDO donates millions to progressive causes voted on by members of their action network. It is simple to join and cast your vote for OFRF! Organic Farming Research Foundation P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA - http://ofrf.org

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--
Melissa Hornaday, Great Lakes Organizer
Organic Farming Research Foundation
313-525-2372

melissa@ofrf.org
www.ofrf.org

Join the OFRF Action Network Today! http://ofrf.org/action/action.html

Michigan Farm to School News

Greetings,

Check out the latest Farm to School news, opportunities, resources and events below!

 

 

NEWS

 

Thanks to at the Urban and Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI) at Occidental College, the Farm to Preschool Website has been launched to showcase programs F2PK and resources from around the country!

 

Early Spring Warmth Causing Growers Sleepless Nights
Spring has arrived a few weeks earlier than usual for many Midwest and Eastern states, but these conditions tend to lead to problems for growers such as diseases, pests and lack of labor. Check out this Vegetable Growers News article to learn more.

 

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) released the 4th Annual School Food Service Leader Survey Results, showing that nearly 145 school districts serving 68% of Minnesota's K-12 students are now engaged in farm to school, but the purchase of local foods averaged only $2.32 per student per year. IATP also surveyed farmers (primarily in Minnesota and Wisconsin) and released the Grower Perspectives on F2S results.

This new REAP Farm to School video showcases the Chef in the Classroom program at East High School in Madison, WI. Check it out here.

 

The Economic Impact of Michigan’s Food and Agriculture Sector

An updated MSU study shows that the food and agriculture industry contributes an estimated $91.4 billion to the state’s economy, an increase of more than 50% between 2004 and 2010. Learn more from the MSU Product Center here.

 

More Fresh Produce Being Served in Michigan School Meals
Michigan Department of Education recently reported that there are growing demands in Michigan to use more fresh produce in school meals. The Fresh Produce Program, funded through the Department of Defense (DoD) and USDA, offers schools in Michigan a wider variety of fresh produce than would normally be available through USDA purchases.

 

Michigan Good Food Charter 10 Cents a Meal Policy Recommendation

A goal of the Michigan Good Food Charter is for Michigan institutions to source 20% of their food products from Michigan growers, producers and processors. To help make that happen, the Charter recommends public-private partnerships to provide an extra 10 cents per meal reimbursement to schools serving locally grown fruits and vegetables in lunch programs to help reach that goal. A policy brief on the Michigan Good Food Charter’s “10 Solution” can be found here.

In early March, Governor Rick Snyder and Keith Creagh, Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, visited an elementary school in Traverse City to learn more about area farm to school efforts and how they could be strengthened through a regional grant-funded pilot of the 10 Cents a meal reimbursement. Read more from the Traverse City Record Eagle here and from the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI), one of the hosts of the Governor’s visit, here.

 

Could local farmers soon supply local schools? Meeting in Central Lake brings farmers, schools together
"Creating Farm to School Business Opportunities Workshop," presented by the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI), is stimulating discussion about the possibilities and challenges of farm to school programs. Read the full story here.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Farm to Childcare Recipes
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has announced the launch of their Farm to Table Recipe Bank at WSDA Farm to School website’s WA Grown Food Kit. Additional resources include Bridging the GAPs, which addresses Good Agricultural Practices and food safety on small and diversified farms, and the Farm Wisdom video series in which farmers demonstrate innovative and viable business and production practices to manage risk, and to build and maintain sustainable small-scale farms. 

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

We’re now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 Michigan Farm to School Grant Program!
Food service directors must often work through numerous challenges to start or expand farm to school programs. The goal of the MI Farm to School Grant Program is to help overcome some of these challenges, and initiate and expand farm to school programs across the state. With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MI Farm to School Grant Program was able to award EIGHT Michigan K-12 schools/districts with funds to plan for or implement farm to school programs in 2011. The second grant program year is September 1, 2012 – June 1, 2013. Early childcare programs are eligible to apply for planning grants. Please review the application materials and sample grant applications attached for more information. Find application materials, eligibility information and more on the Michigan Farm to School website. Applications are due by Friday, May 4^th.

 

Action for Healthy Kids 2012-2013 School Grants for Healthy Kids Application for Funds

Over 500 schools will be awarded $1,000 to $5,000 (average $2,000) with significant in-kind contributions from Action for Healthy Kids. Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program, and must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility greater than 50% to be eligible. The deadline to apply is May 5.

 

 

EVENTS

 

Afterschool Meals Matter: Nutrition Quality Webinar

Offered by FRAC (Food Research and Action Center)
Wednesday, April 18, 1:00 PM
Register Here

 

Managing Food Safety When Handling Fresh Produce in Schools Webinar
Offered by the School Nutrition Foundation in partnership with the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Office of Food Safety

Wednesday, April 18, 2:00 PM
Register Here

 

SNF (School Nutrition Foundation) Peer2Peer Connect Webinar
Tuesday, May 1, 2:00 PM
Register Here

School Gardening 101 Workshops

Offered by MSU Extension, $20 registration fee.

5-8 pm at each of three locations:

May 3^rd in Novi

May 10^th in Wayne

May 14^th in Clinton Township

See flyer and registration form attached.

 

Michigan Good Food Summit
June 14, 2012
Lansing Center
Lansing, MI

 

2012 National Value Added Agriculture Conference
June 24 – 26, 2012
Grand Traverse Resort
Traverse City, MI

 

6^th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference 
August 2 – 5, 2012
Burlington, Vermont

Scholarship information coming soon!

 

 

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

 

Re: APR 12 Deadline: Detroit Public Schools Hiring Garden/Farm Managers for Food Service Production

Please note the website for more information about how to apply for these position:

http://detroitk12.org/employment/job/1962/


> DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOB POSTINGS
>
> DPS is hiring for two exciting employment opportunities:
>
> Job Title: School Garden Manager - Program Associate II
> Salary Range: $41,709 - $66,661 (annually)
> DEADLINE: APRIL 12
> Description: Responsible for the coordination and implementation of
> school gardens. Manage production garden and hoop house operation in
> support of the District's education program and the OFS health meals
> initiative.
> Education: A Bachelor's degree in horticultural science or an
> associate's degree in horticultural science and proof of completion
> of agricultural training or internship program
> Complete description and application process here!
>
> Job Title: Garden Program Manager - Program Supervisor
> Salary Range: $74,699 - $92,527 (annually)
> Deadline: April 12
> Description: The Detroit Public Schools Office of Food Services is
> seeking an experienced gardener with classroom experience teaching
> math and science to administer program functions and supervise staff
> as part of the Office of Food Services Farm2School initiative.
> Education: A Master's degree in Agriculture, Education or Business is
> required. Must possess and provide evidence of a valid State of
> Michigan Driver's License at time of hire
> Complete description and application process here!
>
>

APR 12 Deadline: Detroit Public Schools Hiring Garden/Farm Managers for Food Service Production

DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS JOB POSTINGS

DPS is hiring for two exciting employment opportunities:

Job Title: School Garden Manager - Program Associate II
Salary Range: $41,709 - $66,661 (annually)
Deadline: April 12
Description: Responsible for the coordination and implementation of school gardens. Manage production garden and hoop house operation in support of the District's education program and the OFS health meals initiative.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in horticultural science or an associate's degree in horticultural science and proof of completion of agricultural training or internship program
Complete description and application process here!

Job Title: Garden Program Manager - Program Supervisor
Salary Range: $74,699 - $92,527 (annually)
Deadline: April 12
Description: The Detroit Public Schools Office of Food Services is seeking an experienced gardener with classroom experience teaching math and science to administer program functions and supervise staff as part of the Office of Food Services Farm2School initiative.
Education: A Master's degree in Agriculture, Education or Business is required. Must possess and provide evidence of a valid State of Michigan Driver's License at time of hire
Complete description and application process here!