Clarkston Community Schools' Request for Quotes for local produce

Farmers and food vendors,

Please see the attached information for Clarkston Community Schools’ Request for Quotes for locally-grown produce. Located in Oakland County, this school district is requesting quotes for delivery of Gala and Macintosh apples, asparagus, lettuce, pears, potatoes, and/or tomatoes.

 

Please contact Janet Allen of the Nutrition Department at Clarkston Community Schools with any questions or responses to this request at allenja@clarkston.k12.mi.us or 248-623-8001.  Please note that quotes are due by noon on August 11, 2010.

 

Best,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution 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

Hi all,

I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend. Here are the latest Farm to School news bites: 

NEWS

Michigan's Obesity Rate Among Nation's Highest – “Michigan is the only state outside the South with one of the nation's highest obesity rates, according to a report released Tuesday by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.”

Grassroots, Lobbyists Pressure Congress On School Lunch - Activists around the nation, including Michigan’s own Rachel Hilliker, are working to improve the nutritional quality of school meals. 

Chris Bedford from the Center for Economic Security made a 4 minute video called “Eating Smart” on healthy, local foods in the school lunch program at Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools. You can purchase a copy of the video and a new 27 minute Farm to School presentation about proposed changes to use local and healthy foods and scratch cooking in school meals in Muskegon County. If you’re interested, make your $20 check out to: Center for Economic Security, 6543 Hancock Road, Montague, MI. Income from the sale of these DVDs will support the campaign website (www.healthyschoolmeals.org) and the work of the campaign.

Announcing the Release Of The Michigan Good Food Charter! The Michigan Good Food Charter is now available at www.michiganfood.org. The charter presents a vision for Michigan’s food and agriculture system and outlines agenda priorities for the next 10 years. Check it out!

Also newly released is the “Model Business Plan for Season Extension with Hoophouses” (Extension Bulletin E-3112) by David Conner of the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University. This document can help farmers develop their own business plans for hoophouse production. You can access this PDF document from this link - http://www.mottgroup.msu.edu/PublicationsPresentations/FarmingandProduction/tabid/150/Default.aspx, then click on “Hoophouse Season Extension Model Business Plan.”

OPPORTUNITIES 

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is announcing the opportunity for public and not-for-profit organizations to submit applications for a Hunger-Free Communities grants. FNS must receive completed grant applications by September 1, 2010. Applications may be submitted at HungerFreeCommunities@fns.usda.gov. Follow these links for more information: 
- Press Release
- Cover Letter
- Request for Application
- Prospective Applicants Webinar 

 

Stay cool,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution 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

 

Request for Quotes - Livingston & Washtenaw County Farm to School Programs

Attention farmers and vendors:

 

Participating school food service directors in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties are now accepting proposal for Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables for delivery to any or all of the following school districts:

·         Chelsea School District

·         Dexter Community School District

·         Fowlerville Community Schools

·         Hartland Consolidated Schools

·         Howell Public School District

·         Saline Area Schools

·         Whitmore Lake Public Schools

 

Proposals will be accepted for wide variety of locally-grown fruits and vegetables for the 2010/2011 school year for all school districts, some of which will also operate summer food service programs in the summer of 2011. This is a great way for farmers in and around Livingston and Washtenaw Counties to diversify or expand their markets!

 

Please see the attached cover letter and bid packet for details. Contact the participating school food service directors directly  if you have any questions about this market opportunity- their contact information is included in the cover letter. Note that proposals are due by noon on August 9^th, 2010. Feel free to contact me or Michaelle Rehmann of the Food System Economic Partnership (FSEP) (rehmannm@fsep.org or 517-490-6912)  for additional information as well.

 

Thanks so much,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution 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: 2010 Community and School Gardener Networking Meeting - Planning in progress

FYI!

 

From: Scott, Anne C. [mailto:scottann@MSU.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:16 AM
To: YOUTHGROW@LIST.MSU.EDU
Subject: 2010 Community School Gardener Networking Meeting - Planning in progress

 

Apologies in advance for cross-postings.

Planning for the 2010 Community and School Gardener Networking Meeting has begun! The Community School Gardener Networking Meeting (CSGNM) is an opportunity for activists, educators, volunteers, and committed community and youth gardeners to gather and share skills, knowledge, connection, and information that empowers and strengthens the community and school gardener movement in Michigan.   

If you wish to participate in planning this year’s event, please join us on Wednesday, July 14th at 4pm via conference call.  The toll free conference call line is 877-287-0283, code: 219391.  The planning committee is comprised of volunteers from various organizations from around the state that engage in community and/or youth gardening.

We are hoping to determine the location/host community on our next call.  In past years, the CSGNM has been held in Lansing, Flint, and Ypsilanti.   Local organizations that would like to see this year?s event feature youth and community gardening activity in their community and are able to participate in planning are especially encouraged to join our next call.  Current possibilities are Detroit, or a community in the west or northern regions of the state.

More details about the event to come soon!  For more information, contact the planning committee at communityschoolgardeners@gmail.com <communityschoolgardeners@gmail.htm> .  


Anne C. Scott
Youth & Community Food Outreach Specialist
C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU
(517) 353 0751
scottann@msu.edu
www.miyouthandfood.msu.edu

Genesee County Schools' Farm to School Request for Quotes

Greetings all,

A number of school food service directors in Genesee Intermediate School District now have 2 years of local food purchasing experience, and they’re ready to do more next year!

 

Please find attached the Request for Quotes (RFQ) for locally (Michigan) grown fruits and vegetables for participating school districts in Genesee Intermediate School District. As you’ll see, the school districts are interested in purchasing apples, cantaloupe, peaches, pears, watermelon,  green cabbage, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, corn, broccoli and cauliflower for their school meals programs, but they’re open for suggestions if you have other products available. Review the attached document for instructions and more details, and, if you’re interested, submit a quote in writing to GISD Health, Safety, and Nutrition Services by July 29^th, 2010. Feel free to be in touch with me, Aggie Bedell from Health, Safety and Nutrition Services at GISD or any of the participating school food service directors (contact info included in the RFQ) if you have any questions. You’re welcome to share this RFQ with farmers who may be interested in this great market opportunity!

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution 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: Needed! Comments to USDA on Geographic Preference rule by June 18th

Hi all,
Please see the message below and attachments from the National Farm to School Network regarding the public comment period for the final rule for "geographic preference", which allows school food service directors to prefer locally grown and raised unprocessed products for Child Nutrition Programs like school meals and snack programs. For additional reference, I've attached the current proposed rule and two of the past USDA guidance memos addressing this issue.

If you would like to weigh in on the topic of geographic preference and local food purchasing at schools, please submit your comments by this FRIDAY, JUNE 18th through one of these methods:
-Federal E-rulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R-0900006480adaf6f
-Fax to Melissa Rothstein at 703-305-2879
-Mail to:
Melissa Rothstein
Policy & Program Development Branch
Child Nutrition Division Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
3101 Park Center Drive, Room 634
Alexandria, VA 22302

Thanks,

Colleen Matts
Farm to Institution 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

-----Original Message-----
From: sara tedeschi [mailto:smtedeschi@wisc.edu]
Subject: Needed! Comments to USDA on Geographic Preference rule by June 18th

Greetings all -

Most of you are well aware of the past two USDA memos (post Farm Bill) allowing and defining the use of geographic preference in school food purchasing protocol. Now is the public comment period prior to the language becoming law. It is important that we weigh in and ensure that there is clarification on what is and is not allowed under the terminology "processed."

The National Farm to School Network has put together an informative and very helpful backgrounder (attached), as well as supplied a sample letter, also attached. The link to the proposed rule can be accessed via the backgrounder.

Please consider taking the time to submit a letter within the next week to ensure that this crucial aspect of local purchasing is further clarified and that we do not end up with a rule that prohibits (purposely or via vague language) the types of minimal processing becoming more and more important in farm to school efforts.

The Network also suggests that if you choose to make this very easy, one can simply state to the USDA "we support the comments of the CFSC and the National Farm to School Network."

Food Service directors who are engaged in purchasing any kind of minimally processed produce or meat items would be great individuals to submit letters. Please share this request with the Directors you think might be motivated to provide thier input.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for your expert assistance at this time!

Sara

************************
Sara M. Tedeschi
Great Lakes Farm to School Network Coordinator Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems University of Wisconsin, Madison www.cias.wisc.edu www.farmtoschool.org smtedeschi@wisc.edu 608-513-3980

More Farm to School News

Greetings,

Some of these news bites are a little overdue, but I wanted to be sure to share them nonetheless. Enjoy!

NEWS:

School Lunches are a National Security Threat?
A group of retired military leaders said that Americans are becoming “too fat to fight.” Click here to read their report, which says that more than 27% of young adults (ages 17-24) are too overweight for military service. These military leaders are encouraging Congress to remove junk food from schools, improve nutritional standards and quality of school meals, and to increase access to anti-obesity programs. Here is more news regarding this new report:

•  Ex-military leaders: Young adults 'too fat to fight' (CNN)  
•   Report: American Childhood Obesity Threatening National Security (NBC)

 

School Sites Selected for USDA Farm to School Team Site Visits
290 schools across the country applied for consideration for a Farm to School site visit by the new USDA Farm to School Team. Thanks to all of those in Michigan who applied! Only 15 sites were selected and recently notified. They are:

Harrisonburg                                                   Harrisonburg, VA           
Boston Public Schools                                     Boston, MA       
Jamestown Public Schools                              Jamestown, RI      
Burlington Vermont Public Schools                Burlington, VT    
Jefferson County Public Schools                     Louisville, KY    
Montgomery County Public Schools               Mount Sterling, KY         
Chilton Public Schools                                     Chilton, WI     
Hilbert Public Schools                                     Hilbert, WI     
Independence Community School District     Independence, IA         
Union Public Schools                                       Tulsa, OK      
Morrison Public School                                   Morrison,  OK     
Ventura Unified School District                      Ventura, CA         
Riverside Unified School District                    Riverside, CA   
Bethel School District                                     Eugene, OR          
Eugene School District 4J                                Eugene, OR      

 

FoodCorps Garden Building & Summit

For your viewing pleasure, click here to view photos that were taken at the FoodCorps Garden Building and Summit that took place at the National Farm to School Conference in Detroit last month. If you would like to share photos you took at the conference, please post them on the conference event page on Facebook and to SlideShare.

School Food 101

Check out the School Food 101 Webinar that was presented by the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU and School Food FOCUS on May 5, 2010! Click here.

 

OPPORTUNITIES:

Is your school interested in gluten-free and/or dairy-free products? If so, check out Dennett’s Gluten (all) & Dairy (99%) Free Creations product availability and wholesale price list (attached). Please contact Sherry Adams-Dennett directly at sherry@dennettsglutenfree.com for more information or to place an order.

 

EVENTS:

Food System Economic Partnership Annual Conference
When: June 24, 2010
Where: Jackson Area Career Center
Register on-line at http://www.fsepconference.org/ 
Click here for more information.

Movie Screening and Information Session of “Two Angry Moms”

When: Saturday, June 26 from 1-4 PM
Where: Capital Area District Library

There is a free screening of the documentary "Two Angry Moms" which explores the questions “what are our children are eating at school, how  is it impacting their learning, their behavior, and their health?” This event is hosted by Rachael Hilliker and is free, but please RSVP here. For more information about “Two Angry Moms”, please visit www.angrymoms.org.

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution 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