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Recent Media Mentions

Cultivating New Farmers, The Future of Sustainable Food.. by Tricia Edgar JustMeans.com Published 12/17/2010
So what about those who are out standing in their fields? Are we going to represent them at employment fairs? Are children going to learn that being a farmer is a career option, and are young adults going to feel supported to learn about gardening and farming? Most of the world's population now lives in urban areas. Many urban children don't grow up around farms. Many don't have any idea where their food comes from. For a while, they may not realize that it comes from plants and animals - after all, often food comes in packages and cans, and it's pretty well disguised. Where are these children going to get to know about farming and market gardening as career options?

Obama Budget Doesn’t Thrill School Lunch Advocates by Kim Severson NY Times Published 02/01/2010
President Obama’s budget proposal is getting mixed reviews among the people watching over the quality of public school lunches. Some say it’s too little to make any meaningful change, while others are relieved school food programs are getting anything when other agricultural programs have been cut.

Farm-fresh school lunches on the way by Joan Qazi The Wenatchee World Published 02/01/2010
“What’s for lunch?” Sometimes I don’t want to answer this question, especially when I know my kids and I don’t always agree about what constitutes a good meal. If it’s not pizza or burgers, then they show less enthusiasm about sitting down to eat.

There are people whose paid employment means facing up to this question asked by hundreds of kids every day. School food service personnel are charged with feeding our children well-balanced, nutritious meals and snacks during their school day. This task is made even harder by constrained budgets and national health statistics trending upwards for childhood obesity and diabetes

Mary Cheh on Fighting Obesity with “Healthy Schools” by N/A TheSlowCook.com Published 02/01/2010
D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) has introduced landmark “Healthy Schools” legislation that integrates nutrition standards, locally produced foods, school gardening, broader access to subsidized meals and increased physical exercise to address obesity and other children’s health issues in the nation’s capitol. I recently submitted 34 written questions to Cheh about her bill, resulting in this interview by e-mail. The questions were submitted before I reported a six-part account of the food being served in D.C. schools.

State of the Union's School Lunch: Nutrition as National Defense and Fiscal Health by Debra Eschmeyer Huffington Post Published 01/27/2010
Don't make us tighten our belts on child nutrition programs while the girth of the nation grows. The government spends $1 million per soldier in Afghanistan, yet barely spends $1 on the food in a school lunch.

When President Obama addresses the nation in his State of the Union, he will outline his priorities for 2010: jobs, the deficit, and health care reform. The President will then call for a three-year freeze on domestic programs. Will a program created to "promote the health and well-being of the nation's children" survive the freeze?

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Upcoming Events

Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings®
Thu, Oct 1st, 2009 - Mon, Mar 1st, 2010
Deadline for application is mid august, get your application in soon! The cost is $1200 for the full course + certificate. Scholarships are available, the class meets bi-monthly from October?March.

This program will include nine classroom sessions in on-farm goal setting, strategic and business planning, marketing, and financial management, for those interested in developing or expanding farming enterprises. Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings is farmer led and farmer taught so participants will gain access to many local and regional farmer-mentor colleagues during the classroom sessions and during four additional field days at local, sustainably managed farms. After completing a fully articulated and written business plan, participants will be able to have the plan reviewed by a farmer-mentor of their choosing. This course is based on curricula developed by the Land Stewardship Project and Angelic Organic?s Learning Center, programs which have graduated over 500 farm entrepreneurs in past years. Contact: Rachel
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Calling All Chefs: School Garden Recipe Contest! Visit Website
Mon, Feb 1st, 2010 - Mon, Mar 1st, 2010
Because there's nothing better than eating what you've grown, we're calling all educators, parents and children to submit your favorite school and youth garden recipes.

Winning recipes will be published with recognition in an upcoming children's book by Anne Nagro, author of the nationally-acclaimed Our Generous Garden and Nuestra Huerta Generosa, and Dancing Rhinoceros Press.

Winners also will

· Receive an autographed copy of the book, and

· Have their garden project featured on GardenABCs’ website and newsletter


Everyone who submits a recipe will be entered into a drawing to win a GloPanel 45® LED grow light by Sunshine Systems - Valued at $140!

The GloPanel 45® doesn't get hot to the touch, consumes less energy (a "green" lesson here) and never requires bulb replacement. It emits red, blue and white wavelengths to promote fast and vigorous growth (another science lesson!). You’ll never be disappointed with week, leggy seedlings again! This LED light covers a five-foot growing area and is a must-have for indoor or classroom growing! Contact: Anne Nagro
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2010 Supermarket Synergy Showcase Visit Website
Tue, Feb 9th, 2010 - Fri, Feb 12th, 2010
The National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) enthusiastically invites you to participate in the 2010 Annual Convention and Supermarket Synergy Showcase (S3) located in the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. Every year we welcome food manufacturers, service providers and grocery industry experts like you from around the world to share fresh ideas and innovative thinking about food products, services and technology that help strengthen the grocery industry and help build profits for our companies.

As a supplier, you cannot afford to miss the opportunity to put your company on center stage for the independent sector that represents over $200 billion in annual domestic sales. This event brings together community-focused retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and service suppliers all in one place. The S3 Concept Show Floor provides suppliers with an interactive, value added program available only at the 2010 N.G.A. Convention. Reach an estimated 1,500 top level executives in the grocery retailer and wholesaler industry. Connect with the decision makers and find new business contacts. You as the principal will bring new ideas and solutions to this audience to combat their most challenging business issues. Download PDF
Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Winter Conference Visit Website
Tue, Feb 9th, 2010 - Thu, Feb 11th, 2010
Guest Speakers Include: Tom Stearns " High Mowing Organic Seeds Dr. Paul Dettloff, DVM Karl Schmidt " Glacial Lakes Permaculture Dwayne Beck " Dakota Lakes Research Farm Workshops " Entertainment " Over 50 Exhibitors Contact: N/A, N/A

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Recent Press Releases

ADVOCATES FOR FARM TO SCHOOL TESTIFY TO SENATE AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION COMMITTEE
New North Florida Cooperative Testifies for Farm To School Programs in the Child Nutrition Reauthorization ATLANTA (May 15, 2009) The National Farm to School Network and other experts on providing healthy activity and nutrition to school ch... Continue reading

NOURISHING THE NATION ONE TRAY AT A TIME
Improving school meals through farm to school policy in the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Washington, DC ? Highlighting the state of the school plate on February 26, 2009, two congressional briefings are being hosted by the National Farm ... Continue reading

STUDENTS BROADCAST VIDEOS FOR REAL FOOD
YOUTUBE CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED Students were challenged to define what real food means to them through a nationwide YouTube video contest. Created by the National Farm to School Network and sponsored by Action for Healthy Kids, the Re... Continue reading