Help !!!

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, I came down to London, United Kingdom for a short vacation. Unfortunately,I was mugged at the park of the hotel where i stayed,all cash and credit card were stolen off me but luckily for me i still have my passport with me. I've been to the the Police here but they're not helping issues at all and my return flight leaves in few hours from now but I'm having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let me leave until I settle the bills. Well I really need your financial assistance.. Please let me know if you can help me out?   I'm freaked out at the moment!! Mary Jo Airo

MI Farm to School Grant Program Grantee Announcement

Farm to school friends and partners,

 

With funding from the WK Kellogg Foundation, the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University will award up to $2,000 for schools/districts around the state to plan for or implement farm to school programs. We are excited to announce that this year a total of 22 schools/districts and early childcareprogram applicants across the state have been selected to participate this year! This is almost triple the amount of grantees from our 2011 – 2012 grant program year! 

 

The grantees for the Michigan Farm to School Grant Program 2012 – 2013 program year are:

 

School/District	County	Type of Grant
All Aboard Learning Station	Van Buren	Planning
Allegan Public Schools	Allegan	Planning
Benton Harbor Area Schools	Berrien	Planning
BHK Child Development	Baraga	Planning
Clare Public Schools	Clare	Implementation
Community Action Agency Head Start Program	Jackson & Hillsdale	Planning
Cory School of Learning	Wayne	Planning
Forest Area Community Schools	Grand Traverse	Planning
Frankfort Elberta Area Schools	Benzie	Implementation
Hamtramck Head Start	Wayne	Planning
Manistique Area Schools	Schoolcraft	Planning
Montrose Community Schools	Genesee	Implementation
Mrs. B's Daycare	Ingham	Planning
Oakland Family Services	Oakland	Planning
Rainbow Academy Two Preschool	Oakland	Planning
River Valley School District	Berrien	Planning
South Haven Public Schools	Van Buren	Implementation
South Redford School District	Wayne	Planning
YMCA David D. Hunting Child Development	Kent	Planning
Ypsilanti Public Schools	Washtenaw	Implementation
Waldren Area Schools	Hillsdale	Planning

 

Each grantee isunique, with exciting and innovative ideas for planning for or implementingfarm to school programs.  Since a goal of this grant program is to help vulnerable children find more healthy and local food choices in school meals programs, each school/district or early childcare program selected to participate has at least 50% free and reduced-price meal enrollment and/or Tier I CACFP reimbursement rate eligibility (as of application date). 

 

This grant program is a direct way to help food/nutrition service directors across the state overcome some of the many challenges they face when working to initiate andexpand farm to school programs.  Not only will grantees be awarded up to $2,000 dollars in funding, they will also be provided with technical assistance and training opportunities to help develop, support and enhance of their farm to school activities and programs. 

 

Please stay tuned for more information and updates!

--

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 

St. Clair County Schools Farm to School Bid Request

(Apologies for cross posting)

 

Greetings growers and vendors,

 

Capac Community Schools, East China Schools, Marysville Schools, Yale Public Schools and Port Huron Schools in St. Clair County are accepting proposals for Michigan fruits and vegetables including apples, broccoli, Swiss chard, cherry tomatoes, and slicing tomatoes.

 

For initial consideration, please complete and submit the Vendor Questionnaire included in the attached packet by 2 pm on June 29^th, 2012. Then, a meeting and/or farm tour will be requested by relevant school food service directors in June. Product Availability and Pricing Forms (also in the attached packet) are due by August 15^th as the final proposal later in the summer, prior to the start of the school year. At that time, feel free to make the school food service directors aware of any additional products you would like them to consider.

 

Please direct all responses, questions and inquiries to any of the following school food service directors:

 

·         Vicki Watson, Capac Community Schools , 403 N. Glassford  Capac, MI 48014       

810-395-3855, vwatson@capacschools.us

 

·         Julie Humphrey, East China Schools, 1585 Meisner Rd. East China, MI 48054        

810-676-1112, jhumphrey@ecsd.us

 

·         Tina Tallman, Marysville School, 555 E. Huron, Marysville, MI 48040

810-455-6026, ttallman@marysvilleschools.us

 

·         Louanne Warner, Yale Public Schools, 247 School Drive  

810-387-4245, lwarner@yale.k12.mi.us

 

·         Mary Kurkowski, Port Huron Schools, 1925 Lapeer Ave, Port Huron, MI  48061   

810-984-3101 329, mkurkowski@phasd.us

 

 

Thanks for your consideration,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

FW: updates regarding the USDA farm to school grant program - please spread the word

Hi all,

For those of you who may be interested in applying for the first USDA Farm to School Grants, please see a note below about a few updates. Applications are due by June 15^th!

 

Thanks,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

From: Kane, Deborah - FNS [mailto:Deborah.Kane@fns.usda.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 2:02 PM
To: Kane, Deborah - FNS
Cc: Brown, Laura - FNS; Conell, Christina - FNS; Kriviski, Diane - FNS
Subject: updates regarding the USDA farm to school grant program - please spread the word

 

Hello all,

 

Just a quick update regarding the USDA farm to school grant program. All of this is now noted on the USDA website, but I thought I’d highlight a few things for you:

 

·        A new form is required – one that better captures free and reduced price meal participation rates. Applicants will need to submit this supplemental form in order to be deemed eligible. (Accessed online.)

·        The CCR registration system is changing right in the midst of our submission period, making some of the info in the RFA out of date. (Details online.)

·        A link to the implementation grant webinar held last week is now available; the planning grant webinar should be posted shortly. (On YouTube; see links online.)

·        The FAQs have been updated with this info and also now include many of the questions that were asked during the webinars last week. (Accessed online.)

 

Anyone who submitted a letter of intent or is on our listserve will receive this info. Just wanted to make sure you had it as well. Thanks so much for your help in spreading the word!

 

All best,

Deborah

 

Deborah J. Kane

National Director, USDA Farm to School Program

(c) 503.260.1717

 

 

This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.

Michigan Farm to School News

Greetings,

Enjoy the latest Farm to School–related news bites!

 

 

NEWS

 

Rule on Compliance for Six-cents Per Meal Incentive

The USDA has published a rule explaining the certification of compliance process for schools to receive a performance-based cash incentive of six-cents per meal under the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010. Learn more about the certification process in the Federal Register here, and read the USDA’s press release here.

 

New Regional Food Hub Resource Guide

The USDA’s first Regional Food Hub Resource Guide, aimed to connect small- and medium- sized producers and help expand their market opportunities, has been released. This comprehensive handbook can be used by anyone interested in creating or strengthening a food hub in their community.

 

Farm to School Thrives in the Midwest

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service Midwest Region “At the Table” newsletter mentions the Great Lakes Farm to School Network and the diverse activities around the region. Check out the exciting happenings in the attached newsletter.

 

Michigan State University’s new Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) is pleased to announce the release of the publication, “Creating Change in the Food System.” This report, authored by Rich Pirog of MSU CRFS and Corry Bregendahl of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, details the growth and achievements of the Regional Food Systems Working Group in Iowa over the past eight years. The report can be accessed at http://bit.ly/ccfsreport

 

A new article from the Journal of School Health explores whether farm to school programs are more common in states with farm to school related laws. Read the article attached.

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Summer Meals Matter Conference Call Recording

In case you missed the Summer Meals Matter conference call about the Summer Meals Kick-off Week and Outreach to Parents on May 1^st, you can listen to a recording by calling: (866)854-2507 and entering the conference ID number: 390213.

 

2012 USDA Industry Conference Presentations

USDA Agricultural Market Service Commodity Procurement Division has made available the presentations from the 2012 Industry Conference. Find them here.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

 

USDA Farm to School Grant Program

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) anticipates awarding up to $3.5 million in grant funding to support efforts that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Initial letters of intent were due on Friday, May 18^th, and applications for Planning and Implementation Grants are due by June 15, 2012. For more information and resources, visit the USDA Farm to School Grant Program webpage here. If you’re interested in applying for this grant opportunity, check out the Colorado Farm to School Task Force’s handy spreadsheet tool (attached) to help facilitate the process.

 

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Childhood Obesity Grant

The USDA AFRI program will provide up to $1 million grants to programs designed to reduce prevalence of overweight and obesity in children 2-19 years of age.  The Childhood Obesity Program supports Multi-function Integrated Research, Education, and/or Extension Projects and Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) grants. Find more information and eligibility here. The deadline to apply is June 5, 2012.

 

Healthy Breakfast 4 Kids Grant Program

Food Family Farming Foundation (F3) and Walmart Foundation are partnering to provide more than 100 equipment grants of $2,500 to schools in order to aid in the establishment or improvement of universal breakfast programs. The application period has been extended to September 15, 2012. Find more information, including eligibility info, here.

 

Share Your Farm to School Story and Win

The Roadmaps to Health Prize will award six prizes of $25,000 in order to honor communities who have come together to make needed and lasting healthy changes in their communities. This is a perfect opportunity to share your Farm to School success story! For more information and the online application, click here. Notices of intent are due by May 31^st, and the deadline for full applications is June 7, 2012.

 

Home Depot Foundation Community Impact Grants

Grants up to $5,000 in Home Depot gift cards for tools, materials and services will be awarded to agencies using volunteers to improve the physical health of their communities. The deadline to apply is August 13, 2012.

 

 

EVENTS

 

Michigan Good Food Summit

June 14, 2012

Lansing Center

Lansing, MI

Register here and see agenda attached.

 

2012 National Value Added Agriculture Conference

June 24-26, 2012

Grand Traverse Resort

Traverse City, MI

 

6^th Annual National Farm to Cafeteria Conference

August 2-5, 2012

Burlington, Vermont

Scholarship applications are due May 31.

Register here for early-bird registration, which expires June 1, 2012.

 

 

Happy Michigan Asparagus Month,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

Asparagus posters still available for schools!

Greetings,

For those schools that are planning to celebrate Michigan Asparagus Month by serving some of the yummy green spears on their food service lines, there are still a good number of Michigan asparagus posters left to help you promote your efforts in the cafeteria! Please send an email to me at matts@msu.edu or call 517.432.0310 by Friday, May 18th to indicate the number of posters you would like and the address to which to send them by mail. Posters will be available on a first-come first-serve basis while supplies last. The poster is also available for download and printing, along with recipes and some other asparagus info, on the Michigan Farm to School homepage at www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu. Additionally, check out this new Michigan Fresh Asparagus fact sheet from MSU Extension - http://msue.anr.msu.edu/programs/mi_fresh.

 

Enjoy,

 

Colleen Matts

Farm to Institution Specialist

Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

(Formerly the CS Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems)

matts@msu.edu

517.432.0310

www.mifarmtoschool.msu.edu

www.foodsystems.msu.edu

 

May is Michigan Asparagus Month!

It’s official! Governor Snyder has declared May Michigan Asparagus Month! Please see the proclamation attached.

 

In celebration of Michigan asparagus month, we encourage schools and other institutions to add Michigan asparagus to their menus! I’ve attached a few asparagus recipes provided by Michigan school food service directors. Check them out if you need ideas or inspiration for serving asparagus! Nutrition and food service directors can work with local farmers and/or their broadline or specialty distributors to source Michigan asparagus through May and most of June. You can use Michigan MarketMaker and Local Harvest to search for asparagus growers in your area, or review the attached list of additional Michigan asparagus distributors, handlers and farm markets that may be able to help schools source fresh, local asparagus or check on prices.

 

For those of you school food service directors that plan to purchase and serve Michigan asparagus, you can contact me if you’d like some Michigan asparagus posters for your cafeterias! Please send an email matts@msu.edu or call 517.432.0310 by Friday, May 10^th to indicate the number of posters you would like and the address to which to send them by mail. Posters will be available on a first-come first-serve basis while supplies last and will be mailed the week of May 14^th.

 

Check out the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board’s website - http://www.asparagus.org/maab/nutrition.html – for more information, and see the following info from our colleagues at the Michigan Department of Education regarding using asparagus in school meals:

 

• How Asparagus and Recipes Fit into the New Meal Pattern
  • ½ Cup of Asparagus Provides (boiled, drained, no adds): 20 calories, 2grams protein, 0.2g fat, 4g carbohydrate, 1.8g fiber, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 13mg sodium
  • Vegetables Group: Asparagus is in the “other vegetables” category, which schools are required to provide ½ to ¾ cup per week to children (requirement depends on age/grade level) (Source: 7 CFR 210.10 (c)(2)(iii))
  • **DISCLAIMER: Asparagus prepared in a wide variety of methods – particularly those that minimize or eliminate the use of added fat and sodium – can be part of an acceptable meal pattern that fits within the new USDA requirements for school meals (released in January 2012 and required for the 2012-2013 school year). However, full compliance is based on a week’s worth of menus for any given meal type (e.g., breakfast, lunch, snack), so the other meal components must also meet requirements to ensure compliance.
• Raw to Prepared Conversions
  • Fresh Asparagus: 1 pound yields 4.8 ¼-cup servings and 2.4 ½-cup servings (cooked vegetable servings)
  • Frozen Asparagus
    • Cuts and Tips: 1 pound yields 8.1 ¼-cup servings and 4.1 ½-cup servings
    • Spears: 1 pound yields 10.7 ¼-cup servings and 5.4 ½-cup servings
  • Canned Asparagus (cuts and tips):
    • No. 10 can (103 oz) yields 27.8 ¼-cup and 13.9 ½-cup heated, drained vegetable servings
    • No. 300 can yields 3.5 ¼-cup and 1.8 ½-cup servings heated, drained vegetable servings
    • 1 pound yields 4.3 ¼-cup heated, drained vegetable servings

Source: Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
Section 2: Vegetables/Fruits
USDA, 2008
Link: http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/FBG_Section_2-VegFruits.pdf

 

Enjoy your adventures with asparagus!

 

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