March 2018
Farm Fresh Spotlight Story
Crunch Across Cove Sounds Fun and Educational

The school nutrition team at Copperas Cove ISD created a unique event - CRUNCH ACROSS COVE! - to get students excited about local products and Farm Fresh Fridays. For this fun event students at six elementary schools bit into crunchy Farm Fresh apples, all at the same time. Students crunched together to learn about Texas apples, how they grow, and why they are a healthy, delicious snack. Copperas Cove ISD regularly includes local products in Farm Fresh Friday activities, highlighting a different local produce item each month.
 
This is an example of a great educational activity a school district can use to celebrate the Farm Fresh Challenge. Visit SquareMeals.org/FarmFreshChallenge to pledge your participation today!



Farm to School Spotlight
Jump with Jill is Back and Ready to Rock!
 
TDA is now accepting applications for the Texas Farm Fresh Jump with Jill 2018 Live Tour!

TDA's Texas Farm Fresh Jump with Jill Live Tour! brings nutrition education assemblies, at no cost, to select elementary school campuses in Texas. The assemblies combine music and physical activity to reinforce key messages about nutrition and Texas agriculture. Click here to access the application. Applications will be accepted through April 13, 2018.

Assemblies will take place in September and October 2018. Regions of West Texas and the Upper Rio Grande in Education Service Center (ESC) regions 15, 18, and 19 will be the focus of this year's tour. All Contracting Entities (CE) participating in the National School Lunch Program are encouraged to apply for this opportunity, regardless of region. Applications will be catalogued and reviewed for future tours.
 
To learn more about Jump with Jill, watch this short video , visit the Farm Fresh Live Web page at www.SquareMeals.org/FarmFreshTour , or contact FarmFresh@TexasAgriculture.gov .

Take Action for Healthy Kids Grants Fund Healthy Initiatives

Take Action for Healthy Kids (TAHK) is offering grant opportunities that will fund health and wellness initiatives at Texas schools. Even if you've never written a grant application, applying is easy. Take Action for Healthy Kids (TAHK) is available to help you submit a successful application. Apply here.


Farm to Child Care Spotlight
TDA to Pilot Farm Fresh Challenge for CACFP in ESC Region 4

In October 2018 TDA is piloting the Farm Fresh Challenge for child care centers in ESC Region 4. Schools have taken the Farm Fresh Challenge to serve more Texas foods since 2013 and now TDA will explore opportunities for child care centers to connect their participants to local foods and educational opportunities. If you are a child care center sponsor or site operator, or work often with this population, we would be interested in your feedback on this pilot project. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey and share your thoughts on how to establish a sustainable challenge for child care centers. The mission of the challenge is to connect children participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program to seasonally available Texas products while providing agriculturally focused educational opportunities.


Farm to Summer Spotlight
Sign up to Participate in the SFSP Farm Fresh Challenge

TDA is bringing the Farm Fresh Challenge to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Contracting entities (CE) statewide will be able to participate during the summer challenge period June 11-22, 2018.

SFSP CEs earn Farm Fresh Challenge recognition for taking steps to connect participants to local foods and education. For more information about the challenge for Summer Meal Programs visit Squaremeals.org/FarmFreshChallengeSFSP .
If you are a partner organization and interested in promoting the Summer Farm Fresh Challenge, TDA has developed a Copy-Paste Promo Kit with  text that can be copied and pasted into newsletters and social media posts.


Contact TDA
Emilee Case
Coordinator for Farm Fresh Projects

Beatrice Watson
Farm Fresh Specialist

Email us or call
(877) TEX-MEAL
Connect with Others
Texas Statewide Network
This LinkedIn Group is an online network connecting schools, child and adult care centers, producers, support organizations and community members with important information about expanding local food efforts in Texas.
 
Join Today!

Texas Farm Fresh Network
Use this tool to connect with Texas food companies that currently sell or are interested in selling to schools, child care centers and summer meal programs. Company listings include contact information, product availability and distribution radius.
Funding Opportunities
Financial support from organizations may help establish or advance local Farm Fresh initiatives.
 
Go here  for a list of opportunities from TDA, USDA and other organizations.