June 30, 2022

This Week in Farm to School 

Farm to school connects local agriculture, schools, and partners to benefit students, educators, farmers, families, and communities.

Racial Equity in Farm to School (Virtual)

July 19, 2022 // 3 - 5 pm ET (postponed - originally scheduled for June 21)

The Farm to School Coalition of NC and CEFS Farm to School Initiative are hosting a FREE five-session training series on Racial Equity in Farm to School. These trainings will be filled with important information, compelling discussions, and accessible action items. The first session will cover implicit bias and will contribute to achieving the overall objectives of understanding how biases contribute to systemic harm, making connections between language and power, and applying a racial equity lens to farm to school practices.

Register here.

School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute 

December 4-9, 2022 

Every year, the School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for school garden professionals from across the county to collaborate, learn from one another, and develop resources to share with a national audience. In this way, participants will be able to better support school gardens in their regions, and also advance the national school garden movement. Apply by August 1st.

Learn more and apply here.

Recorded: Building Community Interest and Investment In Your School Garden Programs

School gardens have a unique challenge of utilizing the garden space during the summer months, while school is out of session. This virtual gathering discussed strategies that increase community around school gardens, especially during the summer months. The Big Green Chicago Team facilitated a conversation with City Blossoms, Denver Urban Gardens, and the audience to collectively reflect, question, and share experiences to support efforts to strengthen school gardens through the summer.

Watch here.

Behind the Lunch Tray: A Look At How School Meals Are Funded

This article, by EdNC, provides an EdExplainer on how school meals are funded and the financial challenges facing Child Nutrition departments. 

Read more here.

USDA Database of Gap-Certified Farms and Companies

The United States Department of Agriculture has compiled a list of farms and companies that meet USDA Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP). 

View list here.  

Procuring Foods for Child Nutrition Programs Guide

The USDA Procuring Local Foods for Child Nutrition Programs guide provides an overview of federal procurement principles and covers a host of topics related to sourcing and purchasing local foods for state agencies and Child Nutrition Program operators. This guide highlights the variety of mechanisms schools can use to purchase local products while staying in accordance with federal procurement regulations. 

Learn more here.

Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program

Today! Deadline: June 30, 2022

The National Institute for Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program - Produce Prescription Program focuses on projects that improve dietary health through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, reduce individual and household food insecurity, and reduce healthcare use and associated costs. Submissions for grants have now opened. Applications may only be submitted by government agencies and non-profit organizations; however, award recipients may sub-award to organizations not eligible to apply provided such organizations are necessary for the conduct of the project.

Apply here.

Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant

Deadline: July 15, 2022

Little Seeds and KidsGardening are excited to announce the launch of the 2022 Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant. This grant will award a total of 20 programs $500 in funding to develop new or expand existing pollinator gardens. Any nonprofit organization, school district, university, government entity, or tax-exempt organization, like religious organizations and Tribal governments, in the United States and US Territories serving at least 15 youth is eligible to apply. Programs must be planning a new or expanding an existing youth garden designed to teach about the importance of pollinators. Previous winners of the Little Seeds Pollinator Pals Grant are not eligible. 

Learn more and apply here.

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Grant

Deadline: July 28, 2022

The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Sustainable Agricultural Systems supports approaches that promote transformational changes in the US food and agriculture system. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach for projects that are expected to significantly improve the supply of affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible agricultural products while fostering economic development and rural prosperity in America. 

Learn more here.

Keep Kids Fed Act Signed!

President Joe Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act on Saturday morning, extending partial school meal flexibilities through the next school year five days before they were set to expire. The biggest omission is the exclusion of flexibility that suspended eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price meal applications, giving every student free meals. 

Read more here.

Sign On: It's Time for Food Education

For the first time in 50 years, the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health is convening in September 2022. This conference has the potential to influence food policy for decades to come, which makes now a critical time to elevate nutrition issues that matter most. You can help make sure food education has a seat at the table. Food education is key in nourishing every child’s health, education, and sense of belonging at school, especially for children of color, who face health and education inequities. Join FoodCorps and other partners in urging the White House to support placing a food educator in every school.

Sign the petition here. 

North Carolina Alliance for Health (NCAH) Bill Tracker

The North Carolina Alliance for Health is tracking several bills filed at the NC General Assembly. You can view the status of bills S855 Free Breakfast for K-12 students and S856 Free Lunch for K-12 students in this tracker. 

View bills here.

Racial Equity in Farm to School and Farm to Early Care Education Poster

Check out this informational poster created by the Farm to School Initiative and Farm to Early Care Education Initiative at the Center for Environmental Farming Systems that address racial equity in farm to school and early care and education.

View here.

Indigenous Justice For Environmental Movements

The goal of this tool is for non-Indigenous organizers and organizations doing climate or environmental organizing to align their work with Indigenous organizing and ultimately, with Indigenous sovereignty. Aligning with Indigenous nations offers environmental organizations the opportunity to learn from the strength and creativity of Indigenous environmental movement.

Read more here.