FW: MI Farm to School Trainings & National Farm to School Month!

Greetings school food service and pre-K and early care program directors and staff,

Just a reminder to sign up for a MI Farm to School training session if you’re interested! See below for more information, dates and locations as well as a link to RSVP.

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

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

 

 

 

Get ready for National Farm to School Month in October by participating in one of the MI Farm to School Trainings in your area!

 

Through generous funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is offering MI Farm to School Training sessions around the state as part of the MI Farm to School Grant Program. To help bring local food into food service programs, this grant program provides Farm to School Planning and Implementation mini-grants to selected school food service professionals at schools/districts AND early child care and education programs with 50% free and reduced rates or greater (or equivalent). Seventeen MI Farm to School grants were awarded for the 2013/2014 school year (the application period is now closed), and all grantees will attend the training nearest them. Now, we would like to extend the invitation to all Michigan school food service and early child care program providers (regardless of the free and reduced rate of your program/school/district) who are interested beginning or expanding Farm to School programs!

 

The MI Farm to School training dates and locations are as follows:

 

·     Tuesday, September 24^th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Gratiot Isabella RESD (Regional Education Service District)

1131 East Center St.

Ithaca, MI 48847

 

·     Wednesday, September 25^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

      Odawa Casino & Resort

      1760 Lears Rd. 

      Petoskey, MI 49770

 

·     Friday, September 27^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

***with an optional Tour of Detroit Eastern Market at 10:30 am and lunch to follow!***

Detroit Eastern Market

Shed 3

Detroit, MI 48207

 

·     Tuesday, October 1^st, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) West Campus Site 
4606 Croyden Ave

Kalamazoo, MI 49006

 

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, meeting nutrition and program standards with locally-grown food, food safety, expanding Farm to School programs beyond produce and beyond lunch, and more! Time will also be dedicated for attendees to network with and learn from each to other. Light refreshments will be served at each training, and lunch will be included for those who wish to attend the optional tour of Detroit Eastern Market prior to the training there on September 27th. 

 

RSVP for any one of these free trainings here - http://msucarrs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6fLZ14SgxFPdMmF. RSVPs will be accepted on a first come first serve basis as space allows for each training location. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Julia Smith (smith503@msu.edu or 517-432-4525), our new Farm to School Specialist at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and manager of the MI Farm to School Grant Program.

 

 

Assoc. Director opening at Center for Regional Food Systems

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems seeks a Managing Associate Director.  This person will oversee the day-to-day management of the center and contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to advance CRFS' research, outreach, and education on food systems issues.  Please see the CRFS website for the full position description.

Applications are to be submitted through the MSU Jobs website (posting #8249) and will be accepted until Friday, October 18, 2013, or until a suitable candidate is identified. 

Please feel free to share this information among your networks as well!

Thanks,

Liz

-- 

Liz Gensler

Communications & Grant Specialist 

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd, Rm 309 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-353-1914 | (f) 517-353-3834 

foodsystems.msu.edu 

National Food Hub Survey findings & webinar

Good morning!  

The Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems and Wallace Center at Winrock International are pleased to announce the release of Findings of the 2013 National Food Hub Survey.  This report details survey results from over 100 food hubs – businesses or organizations that manage the aggregation, distribution and marketing of source-identified food products – and demonstrates that food hubs continue to develop as financially viable businesses throughout the U.S.

The Wallace Center's National Good Food Network will host the State of the Food Hub - National Survey Results webinar, highlighting key findings from the report, this Thursday, Sept. 19, at 3:30pm EDT.  Registration for the webinar is free and open until broadcast time at http://bit.ly/hubsurveywebinar.

A press release and more information on the survey are located at http://foodsystems.msu.edu/activities/food-hub-survey.

-- 

Liz Gensler

Communications & Grant Specialist 

Center for Regional Food Systems | Michigan State University

480 Wilson Rd, Rm 309 | Natural Resources Building | East Lansing, MI 48824

(p) 517-353-1914 | (f) 517-353-3834 

foodsystems.msu.edu 

FW: MI Farm to School Trainings & National Farm to School Month!

Hello again,

For those who are interested, the video from the Food Day Webinar: Food Day in Schools: How to Get Involved (Center for Science in the Public Interest) on Sept 4^th is available here - http://www.foodday.org/webinars. Apologies for the late notice!

 

Colleen

 

From: Matts, Colleen
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2013 10:09 AM
To: mifarmtoschool@list.msu.edu
Subject: MI Farm to School Trainings & National Farm to School Month!

 

Greetings,

 

Now that the school year is underway, get ready for National Farm to School Month in October by participating in one of the MI Farm to School Trainings in your area!

 

Through generous funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is offering MI Farm to School Training sessions around the state as part of the MI Farm to School Grant Program. To help bring local food into food service programs, this grant program provides Farm to School Planning and Implementation mini-grants to selected school food service professionals at schools/districts AND early child care and education programs with 50% free and reduced rates or greater (or equivalent). Seventeen MI Farm to School grants were awarded for the 2013/2014 school year (the application period is now closed), and all grantees will attend the training nearest them. Now, we would like to extend the invitation to all Michigan school food service and early child care program providers (regardless of the free and reduced rate of your program/school/district) who are interested beginning or expanding Farm to School programs!

 

The MI Farm to School training dates and locations are as follows:

 

·     Tuesday, September 24^th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Gratiot Isabella RESD (Regional Education Service District)

1131 East Center St.

Ithaca, MI 48847

 

·     Wednesday, September 25^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

      Odawa Casino & Resort

      1760 Lears Rd. 

      Petoskey, MI 49770

 

·     Friday, September 27^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

***with an optional Tour of Detroit Eastern Market at 10:30 am and lunch to follow!***

Detroit Eastern Market

Shed 3

Detroit, MI 48207

 

·     Tuesday, October 1^st, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) West Campus Site 
4606 Croyden Ave

Kalamazoo, MI 49006

 

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, meeting nutrition and program standards with locally-grown food, food safety, expanding Farm to School programs beyond produce and beyond lunch, and more! Time will also be dedicated for attendees to network with and learn from each to other. Light refreshments will be served at each training, and lunch will be included for those who wish to attend the optional tour of Detroit Eastern Market prior to the training there on September 27th. 

 

RSVP for any one of these free trainings here - http://msucarrs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6fLZ14SgxFPdMmF. RSVPs will be accepted on a first come first serve basis as space allows for each training location. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Julia Smith (smith503@msu.edu or 517-432-4525), our new Farm to School Specialist at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and manager of the MI Farm to School Grant Program.

 

Then, it’s time to celebrate National Farm to School Month, which kicks off on October 1st but schools, early care programs and organizations are making plans now! To celebrate and spotlight the many aspects of Farm to School, the National Farm to School Network put together a theme of the day calendar that you can use to plan your activities. During October, each theme day will be accompanied by a blog post containing information and activity ideas. To further aid your planning process, a preview of all of the blog posts will be available on farmtoschoolmonth.org starting in mid-August. The blog posts will  be written by a variety of partner organizations throughout the month, providing unique perspectives and stories. Download this PDF version of the calendar, and check out our other resources as well as the items in our shop, such as these "I ate local food today!" stickers. As part of Farm to School Month:

• Farm to Pre-School Day will be celebrated on October 18th to highlight the local food activities in the full spectrum of child care programs: preschools, Head Starts, center-based, programs based in K-12 school districts, and family home care facilities.
• Food Day, "a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, sustainable food", is on October 24th. If you're interested in learning more about participating in food day, participate in:
  •  Food Day Webinar: Food Day in Schools: How to Get Involved (Center for Science in the Public Interest) on September 4, 2013, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT. (Register Here)   This webinar will give you the tools to find out how your school can participate in Food Day and use the momentum to achieve your health and wellness goals. During the webinar you will learn about some of the available resources: Nourish: Food + Community curriculum, Food Day’s school curriculum created by the Columbia Teachers College, and technical tools for the implementation of the new nutrition standards for competitive foods in schools. Join the webinar to learn how Food Day can help your school advance towards the pillars established by the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award.

 

All the best for a great school year!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

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

 

Re: MI Farm to School Trainings & National Farm to School Month!

Colleen,

Please let me know if I can assist you at any of the trainings. I know some dates are already blocked but for those open I would be glad to help out.

 

Lori Yelton

Lori Yelton, MS RDN Nutritionist

Food & Dairy Division

Michigan Department of Agriculture

   and Rural Development

P.O. Box 30017

Lansing, MI  48909

yeltonl@michigan.gov

Please note effective August 19, 2013 this State of Michigan phone number will no longer be in use. My cell phone 517-420-3249 will be my only phone contact number. Please make the necessary changes to you contact information for future contact.

Thank you,

Lori

 

From: Matts, Colleen [mailto:matts@ANR.MSU.EDU]
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2013 10:09 AM
To: MIFARMTOSCHOOL@LIST.MSU.EDU
Subject: MI Farm to School Trainings & National Farm to School Month!

 

Greetings,

 

Now that the school year is underway, get ready for National Farm to School Month in October by participating in one of the MI Farm to School Trainings in your area!

 

Through generous funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is offering MI Farm to School Training sessions around the state as part of the MI Farm to School Grant Program. To help bring local food into food service programs, this grant program provides Farm to School Planning and Implementation mini-grants to selected school food service professionals at schools/districts AND early child care and education programs with 50% free and reduced rates or greater (or equivalent). Seventeen MI Farm to School grants were awarded for the 2013/2014 school year (the application period is now closed), and all grantees will attend the training nearest them. Now, we would like to extend the invitation to all Michigan school food service and early child care program providers (regardless of the free and reduced rate of your program/school/district) who are interested beginning or expanding Farm to School programs!

 

The MI Farm to School training dates and locations are as follows:

 

·     Tuesday, September 24^th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Gratiot Isabella RESD (Regional Education Service District)

1131 East Center St.

Ithaca, MI 48847

 

·     Wednesday, September 25^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

      Odawa Casino & Resort

      1760 Lears Rd. 

      Petoskey, MI 49770

 

·     Friday, September 27^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

***with an optional Tour of Detroit Eastern Market at 10:30 am and lunch to follow!***

Detroit Eastern Market

Shed 3

Detroit, MI 48207

 

·     Tuesday, October 1^st, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) West Campus Site 
4606 Croyden Ave

Kalamazoo, MI 49006

 

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, meeting nutrition and program standards with locally-grown food, food safety, expanding Farm to School programs beyond produce and beyond lunch, and more! Time will also be dedicated for attendees to network with and learn from each to other. Light refreshments will be served at each training, and lunch will be included for those who wish to attend the optional tour of Detroit Eastern Market prior to the training there on September 27th. 

 

RSVP for any one of these free trainings here - http://msucarrs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6fLZ14SgxFPdMmF. RSVPs will be accepted on a first come first serve basis as space allows for each training location. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Julia Smith (smith503@msu.edu or 517-432-4525), our new Farm to School Specialist at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and manager of the MI Farm to School Grant Program.

 

Then, it’s time to celebrate National Farm to School Month, which kicks off on October 1st but schools, early care programs and organizations are making plans now! To celebrate and spotlight the many aspects of Farm to School, the National Farm to School Network put together a theme of the day calendar that you can use to plan your activities. During October, each theme day will be accompanied by a blog post containing information and activity ideas. To further aid your planning process, a preview of all of the blog posts will be available on farmtoschoolmonth.org starting in mid-August. The blog posts will  be written by a variety of partner organizations throughout the month, providing unique perspectives and stories. Download this PDF version of the calendar, and check out our other resources as well as the items in our shop, such as these "I ate local food today!" stickers. As part of Farm to School Month:

• Farm to Pre-School Day will be celebrated on October 18th to highlight the local food activities in the full spectrum of child care programs: preschools, Head Starts, center-based, programs based in K-12 school districts, and family home care facilities.
• Food Day, "a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, sustainable food", is on October 24th. If you're interested in learning more about participating in food day, participate in:
  •  Food Day Webinar: Food Day in Schools: How to Get Involved (Center for Science in the Public Interest) on September 4, 2013, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT. (Register Here)   This webinar will give you the tools to find out how your school can participate in Food Day and use the momentum to achieve your health and wellness goals. During the webinar you will learn about some of the available resources: Nourish: Food + Community curriculum, Food Day’s school curriculum created by the Columbia Teachers College, and technical tools for the implementation of the new nutrition standards for competitive foods in schools. Join the webinar to learn how Food Day can help your school advance towards the pillars established by the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award.

 

All the best for a great school year!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

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

 

MI Farm to School Trainings & National Farm to School Month!

Greetings,

 

Now that the school year is underway, get ready for National Farm to School Month in October by participating in one of the MI Farm to School Trainings in your area!

 

Through generous funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems is offering MI Farm to School Training sessions around the state as part of the MI Farm to School Grant Program. To help bring local food into food service programs, this grant program provides Farm to School Planning and Implementation mini-grants to selected school food service professionals at schools/districts AND early child care and education programs with 50% free and reduced rates or greater (or equivalent). Seventeen MI Farm to School grants were awarded for the 2013/2014 school year (the application period is now closed), and all grantees will attend the training nearest them. Now, we would like to extend the invitation to all Michigan school food service and early child care program providers (regardless of the free and reduced rate of your program/school/district) who are interested beginning or expanding Farm to School programs!

 

The MI Farm to School training dates and locations are as follows:

 

·     Tuesday, September 24^th, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Gratiot Isabella RESD (Regional Education Service District)

1131 East Center St.

Ithaca, MI 48847

 

·     Wednesday, September 25^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

      Odawa Casino & Resort

      1760 Lears Rd. 

      Petoskey, MI 49770

 

·     Friday, September 27^th, 12:30 – 4:30pm 

***with an optional Tour of Detroit Eastern Market at 10:30 am and lunch to follow!***

Detroit Eastern Market

Shed 3

Detroit, MI 48207

 

·     Tuesday, October 1^st, 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) West Campus Site 
4606 Croyden Ave

Kalamazoo, MI 49006

 

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, meeting nutrition and program standards with locally-grown food, food safety, expanding Farm to School programs beyond produce and beyond lunch, and more! Time will also be dedicated for attendees to network with and learn from each to other. Light refreshments will be served at each training, and lunch will be included for those who wish to attend the optional tour of Detroit Eastern Market prior to the training there on September 27th. 

 

RSVP for any one of these free trainings here - http://msucarrs.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6fLZ14SgxFPdMmF. RSVPs will be accepted on a first come first serve basis as space allows for each training location. If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Julia Smith (smith503@msu.edu or 517-432-4525), our new Farm to School Specialist at the MSU Center for Regional Food Systems and manager of the MI Farm to School Grant Program.

 

Then, it’s time to celebrate National Farm to School Month, which kicks off on October 1st but schools, early care programs and organizations are making plans now! To celebrate and spotlight the many aspects of Farm to School, the National Farm to School Network put together a theme of the day calendar that you can use to plan your activities. During October, each theme day will be accompanied by a blog post containing information and activity ideas. To further aid your planning process, a preview of all of the blog posts will be available on farmtoschoolmonth.org starting in mid-August. The blog posts will  be written by a variety of partner organizations throughout the month, providing unique perspectives and stories. Download this PDF version of the calendar, and check out our other resources as well as the items in our shop, such as these "I ate local food today!" stickers. As part of Farm to School Month:

• Farm to Pre-School Day will be celebrated on October 18th to highlight the local food activities in the full spectrum of child care programs: preschools, Head Starts, center-based, programs based in K-12 school districts, and family home care facilities.
• Food Day, "a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, sustainable food", is on October 24th. If you're interested in learning more about participating in food day, participate in:
  •  Food Day Webinar: Food Day in Schools: How to Get Involved (Center for Science in the Public Interest) on September 4, 2013, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT. (Register Here)   This webinar will give you the tools to find out how your school can participate in Food Day and use the momentum to achieve your health and wellness goals. During the webinar you will learn about some of the available resources: Nourish: Food + Community curriculum, Food Day’s school curriculum created by the Columbia Teachers College, and technical tools for the implementation of the new nutrition standards for competitive foods in schools. Join the webinar to learn how Food Day can help your school advance towards the pillars established by the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools recognition award.

 

All the best for a great school year!

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

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: FW: Request for Info from produce suppliers

Greetings growers,

As school staff gear up for the new school year, many food service directors will be seeking local foods for their meals programs. Please see information below and attached about supplying local produce (both fresh and frozen) to up to five large school districts in the Midwest, including Detroit Public Schools.

 

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

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	FW: Request for Info from produce suppliers
Date:	Thu, 08 Aug 2013 09:33:07 -0500
From:	JoAnne Berkenkamp <berkenkamp@comcast.net>

  

 

School Food FOCUS, a national group of K-12 school districts, is seeking information about fruits and vegetables that are regionally grown and processed in the Upper Midwest (in a region that runs from Omaha to Detroit).  As a part of that process, we are seeking responses to the attached Request for Information from suppliers of fresh-cut and frozen produce that is grown AND processed within 400 miles of Des Moines, and fresh-cut from within 200 miles of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

 

In addition to Grade A product, we are interested in information about the availability and pricing of cosmetically imperfect “seconds”.  Please share the attached RFI and Response Form widely with your networks in the region.  The deadline for responses is August 30.  Many thanks!

 

JoAnne Berkenkamp

Tomorrow’s Table LLC
President & Founder

Office:  612 / 354-2235

Cell:  612 / 618-3419

berkenkamp@comcast.net