April Showers of Resources


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As the farm to school movement grows, this newsletter highlights pivotal policies, news, publications, and events. Please contact us if you have any comments or suggestions.

Spotlight

100 Million for School Kitchen Equipment

One of the barriers for getting locally grown food into schools is that some schools are not equipped to store and prepare fresh produce. Now there are funds to help, but you have to act now!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the economic stimulus package, provides $100 million for school food service equipment grants, which can fund new freezers, salad bars, milk coolers, etc. Funds are allocated based on each state's school meals administrative expense allocation, and local school food authorities (SFAs) may then competitively apply for National School Lunch Program equipment assistance grants. Priority will be given to SFAs in which at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-priced meals. Grants will be made no later than June 8, 2009.

Contact your school district and encourage them to apply for a grant and use that funding to expand their capacity to use locally grown food. This includes coolers, freezers, mechanical vegetable slicers and choppers, two-compartment produce-washing sinks, and salad bar equipment.

You can also ask the agency that is implementing the stimulus package in your state to include language in their solicitation of applications to target such funds for farm to school purposes. Click here to find your contact.

Read this excellent article by Diane Conners on how Michigan and Wisconsin are organizing to use the stimulus package kitchen equipment funds for farm to school programs.

Featured Profile

The Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC) received a grand welcome at their new home base of Portland, Oregon with over 650 participants attending the 4th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference: Going the Distance and Shortening it, From Farm to Cafeteria from March 19-21. Sponsored by CFSC, the National Farm to School Network, the Real Food Challenge, and School Food FOCUS, this conference celebrated a new level of collaboration and diversity.

More than 70 speakers advanced our knowledge of the far-reaching depths of local food. Highlights include an amazing youth plenary that inspired a standing ovation for the next generation as The Rethinkers shared their success in eliminating sporks and starting a farm to school program in New Orleans. The School Nutrition Association President Katie Wilson demonstrated her contagious energy for changing food policy through the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization and how farm to school programs can be amplified through that process. To eat what we preach, the closing reception was held at the University of Portland’s dining commons as we ate local fare and enjoyed the dynamic Joan Gussow as she delivered humor and historic perspective to the movement.

A comment from an anonymous attendee sums it up:

“ I’m not alone! The last few days have provided me with information to digest for months to come; the workshops not only answered questions I had about local procurement, but provided totally new perspectives on the power of policy, media, curriculum, and research. It’s so great going back to my community knowing I have friends across the country working to put healthy, local food on everyone’s table.”

Learn more: Visit the conference website in the coming weeks to view the presenters’ slides.

Funding Opportunitites

USDA's Community Food Projects

The USDA's Community Food Projects (CFP) Competitive Grants Program provides the major funding source for community-based food and agriculture projects nationwide. The Community Food Projects Request for Applications for 2009 was released on April 7, with an application deadline of May 13. The Request for Applications is available here.

Electronic submission of proposals is required. More information and technical support contacts are available online here. Also, due to possible delays with the system, it is very important that you not wait until the last day to submit your proposal. Go here for additional info.

Pennsylvania’s Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Grant Program

The Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools Program was established to educate kindergartners and their families about the importance of choosing healthy, locally produced foods while increasing awareness of Pennsylvania agriculture. Any Pennsylvania school district, charter school or private school with a kindergarten program is eligible to apply for the Healthy Farms and Healthy Schools funds. Applications are due May 13, 2009 and are available at the PA Department of Agriculture’s website.

Gardenburger™ Community Garden Grants

Interested in starting up a garden in your community? Check out the following website. They are offering $1000-$10,000. The deadline for applying is May 15th.

Fresh Voices for Fresh Choices Memories of School Food Contest

What is your most vivid memory of school food? Take a photo, create a video, sing a song, do a dance or write a few lines about your most vivid school food memory, and you can win fabulous prizes! The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2009. Click here to enter.

This Month's News

School Lunch Crunch

by Sarah Mirk. Portland Mercury.

Ecotrust demonstrates that a state investment of roughly $20 million over two years will create over $108 million in economic activity for Oregon's farms and 477 jobs. Read the article.

Advocates brief Congress on food program

by Ben Goad. The Press Enterprise.

Rodney Taylor traveled thousands of miles so that the fruits and veggies headed to school cafeterias around the country wouldn't have to. Taylor and other other advocates of the National Farm to School Network gave a congressional briefing in Washington in hopes of finding federal funds to expand the program. Read the article.

Baltimore schools chef Geraci on Diane Rehm

Diane Rehm. Npr.

Tune in to hear Baltimore schools nutrition director Tony Geraci discuss the schools' 33-acre organic farm, where schools can have their own gardens, as well as plans for "farm to fork" vocational programs and three kid-run cafes. He said more than 1,000 Maryland farmers responded to an RFP to serve locally grown produce in city schools. Listen here.

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