Happy Michigan Apple Crunch Day!

Crunch into a locally grown apple to reach our goal of one million Crunches this year!

Michigan Apple Crunch celebrates Michigan farmers, healthy kids, and strong communities  Participating in the Crunch is simple: buy, serve, and Crunch into locally grown apples. Everyone is invited to participate to reach our goal of one million Crunches this year! Today - October 14, 2021 - is the official Crunch date, but we welcome you to Crunch any time this October. Register your Crunch to make it official, add to the Crunch count, and receive the Crunch Guide. No event is too small to register! Follow along and share your images on Facebook @miapplecrunch. To support your Michigan Apple Crunch: Check out Cultivate Michigan resources to help you source Michigan apples from distributors and food hubs for your institutions and promote them in your cafeterias. Visit the Michigan Apple Committee website for searchable tools to help you find Michigan apples at farm markets and stores as well as activities for kids and resources for teachers. Go to Michigan Farm to School and Michigan Farm to ECE for a range of resources and tools to help your efforts!  Register your crunch! Additional Resources The Michigan Apple Crunch is just one way to celebrate Farm to School Month this October. Thank you to Governor Whitmer for proclaiming this October as Farm to School Month in Michigan! Find resources from the National Farm to School Network for National Farm to School Month at farmtoschoolmonth.org. About Michigan Farm to School Farm to School centers around efforts to serve local foods in school and early care and education settings. We share ideas, tools and resources to support a range of efforts, from school garden programming to farmer visits and field trips. Visit mifarmtoschool.msu.edu >> FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU ‌ ‌ ‌ You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the MIFARMTOSCHOOL listserv. Please note that if you unsubscribe from this mailing, you will be removed from the listserv.

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Apply by Oct 18 to work with local food councils in Michigan!

We've extended the deadline for applications to our Local Food Council Fellow position to October 18.

Join the CRFS Team - or encourage others to do so! Six more days to apply for the Local Food Council Fellow position that will support and shape local food council and food policy work in Michigan. The Center for Regional Food Systems (CRFS) at Michigan State University (MSU) has extended its deadline for applications for a full-time, fixed-term Local Food Council Fellow. Applications are now due Monday, October 18.   We are looking for a relationship-driven, resourceful, and self-motivated candidate to bring creative vision and add capacity to support and shape local food council and food policy work in Michigan. Through this position, the Fellow will have opportunities to use and develop new skills in community organizing, policy advocacy, fund development and food justice.   CRFS’s local food council work is highly collaborative. The Fellow will support outreach, training and technical assistance, and relationship-building in local food council and food policy projects of CRFS, using a racial equity lens in all efforts. This person will assist in coordinating and executing activities of the Michigan Local Food Council Network, a network of 25+ Michigan councils that build their individual and collective capacities to work on food and food policy issues, operate effectively, and engage their communities, through peer-to-peer learning. They   The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in community food systems, food policy, public health, nutrition, community development, or a related field and at least two years of work experience in a professional or academic setting.   Find the full position description on our website and on the MSU Careers Portal (posting #731024). Applications will be accepted until Monday, October 18.   Questions about the position or search process should be directed to Liz Gensler, Outreach Specialist, MSU Center for Regional Food Systems, at gensler@msu.edu.   Visit foodsystems.msu.edu to learn more about the Center for Regional Food Systems. Apply Please share this announcement with your networks! EXPLORE foodsystems.msu.edu EMAIL CRFS@msu.edu CALL 517-353-3535 FOLLOW @MSUCRFS ‌ ‌ ‌ FOODSYSTEMS.MSU.EDU You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to one or more MSU Center for Regional Food Systems listservs or mailing lists. You can update your subscriptions by clicking the "Update Profile" link below.

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FW: Governor Whitmer Proclaims October as Farm to School Month in Michigan

FYI

 

From: Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development <MDARD@govsubscriptions.michigan.gov>
Sent: Thursday, October 7, 2021 10:02 AM
To: Yelton, Lori (MDARD) <YeltonL@michigan.gov>
Subject: Governor Whitmer Proclaims October as Farm to School Month in Michigan

 

For immediate release: October 7, 2021 MDARD media contact: Jennifer Holton, 517-284-5724 MDE media contact: Martin Ackley, 517-241-4395 Governor Whitmer Proclaims October as Farm to School Month in Michigan LANSING, MI – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed October as Farm to School Month in Michigan to highlight the important connection between Michigan agriculture and healthy school lunches. Farm to school is a national program enriching the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and childcare education settings. “Farm to School empowers schools, children, and their families to make informed food choices, strengthens the local economy, and contributes to vibrant communities by improving the health and well-being of our kids,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I am proud of our efforts to increase access to healthy, fresh local foods in Michigan through our Farm to School efforts. Michigan’s hardworking farmers, school food service workers, and volunteers have been there for our students through the pandemic, and we should highlight their incredible work and build on their efforts." Through the Farm to School program, schools and preschools buy and feature locally produced, farm-fresh foods such as dairy, fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, and beans on their menus. Schools also incorporate nutrition-based curriculum and provide students with experiential learning opportunities like farm visits, garden-based learning, cooking lessons, and composting and recycling programs. As a result, students have access to fresh, local foods, and farmers have access to new markets through school sales. Farmers are also able to participate in programs designed to educate kids about local food and agriculture. "Michigan's farmers, farm workers, and school nutrition professionals are key components of our state's vibrant food system," said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell. "The framework in place through Farm to School efforts has been crucial as farmers, school food service workers and volunteers continue to serve as frontline heroes, expanding their efforts to provide food to our students and families during the COVID-19 pandemic." The Center for Regional Food Systems at Michigan State University, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), MDARD, and local community and school food programs are championing the statewide efforts. A recent United States Department of Agriculture grant awarded to MDE will convene key partners and champion school food service directors to develop a series of Farm to School training videos covering procurement, agriculture education, Farm to School program, school gardens, food safety, food preparation, culinary arts, and more. "MDE has long supported and fostered farm to school programs through state-level partnerships, multiple federal grants, the 10 cents per meal for Michigan Kids and Farms project and encouraging the purchase of Michigan-grown products for all of our nutrition programs," said State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice. "Since March 2020, MDE programs have partnered with local school districts to serve over a quarter of a billion meals to school children and their younger siblings throughout Michigan as part of the state's pandemic response efforts." MDE houses all federal child nutrition programs outside of Women, Infants and Children and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The department is responsible for school lunch/breakfast programs, after school meals, childcare meals, summer meals, and the food distribution programs of The Emergency Food Assistance Program and Community Supplemental Food Program.  Learn more about Michigan's Farm to School efforts.  Click here to view the 2021 Farm to School Month proclamation. ###       QUESTIONS?   Contact Us   Phone: 800-292-3939     STAY CONNECTED:   SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Update Subscriptions   |   Help To ensure delivery of our emails to your inbox, please add MDARD@govsubscriptions.michigan.gov to your address book. If you were forwarded this email and would like to join our email list, subscribe here. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored for responses. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. This email was sent to yeltonl@michigan.gov using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Michigan Dept of Agriculture & Rural Development · P.O. Box 30017 · Lansing, MI 48909 · 1-800-292-3939