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Ahoy!
National School Lunch Week is coming soon! The week of October 14-18th is a time to celebrate and boost participation with the fun theme of 'School Lunch Pirates: Find Your Treasure'. Use this theme to capture your students attention and build memories in the cafeteria.
More resources to go with this theme are available here: NSLW24 Marketing and PR Resources – School Nutrition Association Membership in SNA opens up an even broader assortment of resources for this event and the School Breakfast week coming up in March. Contact our office if you need more information about membership in SNA/NDSNA.
Have fun, Mates, and share your fun plans with us! (dpicnfd@nd.gov)
#NSLW24
National School Lunch Week - School Nutrition Association
BONUS! If you are an SNA member, they have a monthly promotional calendar and many more resources and menu inspiration available to you to spice up your cafeteria. 2024 2025 Promotion Calendar (schoolnutrition.org)
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After 25 years of dedicated service, Linda Schloer, Director of the Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Office, is retiring from the Department. She looks forward to spending more time traveling and enjoying her grandchildren.
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Throughout her career, Linda’s tireless efforts on behalf of North Dakota's children laid the foundation for programs like the Summer EBT and the State 200 Expanded Income Eligibility program, which enabled more families to access free school meals. Under her leadership, the CNFD team navigated the challenges of technology implementation, secured millions in grant funding, and delivered many hours of testimony to legislators, all to improve child nutrition across the state.
While her leadership will be greatly missed, we are thrilled for Linda as she embarks on this exciting new chapter!
Lynelle Johnson, formerly the Assistant Director, will be assuming the role as Director. We look forward to having her lead our Department!
Some restructuring has occurred in our Office, and in the coming months we will send out an updated contact listing.
In the meantime, we want to announce and welcome our new Team Member, Kayla!
Kayla Ekart has joined DPI Child Nutrition & Food Distribution office as a Child Nutrition Specialist. She will be learning program operations for the National School Lunch Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, and SunBucks Programs.
Fun fact about Kayla: She enjoys traveling and hopes to explore at least a few places on each continent. Korea is next on her list!
"I am looking forward to working with all of you! -Kayla Ekart, Child Nutrition Specialist: kekart@nd.gov - 701-328-3718
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The first step of Verification begins on October 1. On that date, you should count up the qualifying applications that you have received this year. Do not include any applications that were denied/over-income. Do not include any applications that were State 200 Qualified or any applications that were on the Direct Certification list.
- Verify 3% of the qualifying applications. To find out how many applications that is, multiply the number of qualifying applications by .03 to get the number of applications you must verify. Any fraction needs to be rounded up, so if you get 1.05 applications, you must round the number up and verify two applications.
- Choose the application(s) to verify randomly from the Error Prone applications. Error-prone applications are those that have income within $100 of the monthly income eligibility or $1,200 of the annual income eligibility.
- Perform a confirmation review on the application to ensure the initial determination is correct. The confirmation review must be done by someone different than whoever made the initial decision. The confirming reviewer will sign the application on the ‘Confirming Official’ signature line of the application.
- The next step will be contacting the household by letter requesting the documents needed to verify the income listed on the application. A due date of ten days must be included. If the household does not comply by the due date, at least one follow-up contact must be made with the household to obtain the documentation.
- The verification process ends on November 15th. If the household has not responded by then, the household is then notified that the benefits will be terminated in 10 days.
- A report of the verification process needs to be filed in NDFoods by December 15th. Even if no verification was conducted, a verification report must still be filed. This report will open in the NDFoods application on November 1st.
If you have questions about Verification or need a refresher, please access the “Across the Desk” webinar from October 1st on the UPDATES tile of our website.
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Did You Know!
USDA has templates available for the Free and Reduced Price School Meal Application in 49 languages!
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You may access the translated applications by following the link below. In addition to the application form, each translated packet also includes application instructions, and a parent letter/FAQ.
Translated Applications | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov)
The first on-site monitoring form must be completed during the first 4 weeks of program operation. The second should be completed before the program ends for the year. Find 2 copies of the site monitoring form in the Afterschool Snack production record book.
Octobrr Hot Topics
Join us for a fun recap of the School Nutrition Association’s Annual Conference this past summer. Amy Nelson and Lynelle Johnson were two participants from North Dakota. They were sent with a wishlist of the latest and greatest food items and equipment for school kitchens. We are interested in hearing their honest opinion on the new food they tasted such as whole grain breaded onion rings and shelf stable yogurt along with handy dandy gadgets designed to save time in the kitchen.
We also have a guest speaker from the Great Plains Food bank who will talk about the new ‘Repack Program’. Jill Ambeuhl, Coalition Coordinator believes that schools could put together meals from the leftovers that may be designated for the garbage can to alleviate some of the food insecurity in North Dakota. Join us on Tuesday, October 15th to discuss the topic of food donation from the school foodservice.
As always, prior webinar recordings are posted on our website for viewing: UPDATES | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (nd.gov).
DPI is hosting the quarterly “Across the Desk” training today, October 1st. October’s training will include information on Verification, along with any other updates.
Intended Audience: Administration who work with USDA Meal Programs, such as Business Managers, Secretaries, Superintendents or Food Service Directors
If you are unable to join the webinar, the recording will be posted to our website shortly after the event under the 'Updates' tab. UPDATES | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (nd.gov)
Farm to School Updates
Happy National Farm to School Month!
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH, a time to celebrate the connections happening all over the country between children and local food! From taste tests in the cafeteria and nutrition education activities in the classroom to farm visits and school garden harvest parties, schools, early care and education sites, farms, and communities in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. Territories take part in the celebrations.
Celebrate! Many farm to school programs begin with a small activity that generates interest and engages the whole community. Use these ideas to establish a new project or strengthen an existing program.
If you celebrate by featuring any local foods, please submit pictures to Amanda Olson at amolson@nd.gov.
Farm To School - Farm to School Month
Schools, Early Care and Education (ECE), and CACFP sites:
- Organize a farm tour or trip to the local farmers’ market or farm/ranch. You can invite the farmer or rancher into the classroom!
- Promote National Farm to School Month on the school menu, conduct a taste test, or feature a local item.
- Serve a meal that is 100% locally sourced.
Families, Businesses, Organizations:
- Cook with seasonal products as much as possible. Or serve North Dakota meat like beef, bison, pork, or poultry.
- Volunteer at your local school to support a school garden or classroom educational activity. Many farm-to-school programs begin with a small activity that generates interest and engages the whole community. Use these ideas to establish a new project or strengthen an existing program.
Spread the Word:
- Highlight your farm-to-school activities in your newsletters, website, or blog and in materials that go home to parents, such as school lunch menus.
- Invite the media and policymakers to visit your school, farm, or other sites and participate in Farm to School Month events.
- Join the movement by using the hashtags #F2SMonth & #farmtoschool in your social media posts. Tag @farmtoschool in your posts so we can share your content!
- Follow @farmtoschool on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X to see highlights of National Farm to School Month celebrations across the country.
- Follow @NDDA Local Foods on Facebook to see the excellent North Dakota food grown locally.
- Download and print posters, stickers, bookmarks, and more for FREE from farmtoschool.org.
Harvest of the Month - October is Apples!
The October feature is apples! You can find the Apple Poster and the other Harvest of the Month posters (8.5x11) on our website! If you would like to have access to the cute characters, please get in touch with Amanda Olson at amolson@nd.gov.
Farm to Child Nutrition | North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (nd.gov)
Recipe ideas to feature:
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What is the Mountain Plains Crunch Off?
To celebrate Farm to School Month (October), States throughout the Mountain Plains Region (CO, MT, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD, WY) hold a friendly competition to see which State can get the most “crunches” into local produce and other foods, per capita. Even if you can’t purchase ND foods, you can still participate and register for your event. It’s also fun to celebrate eating healthy!
Crunch Off participants -- including students, teachers, farmers, parents, community members, and every North Dakota citizen - bite into local produce together (virtually or in person) to celebrate the wonderful fruits and vegetables grown in the Mountain Plains Region. Crunch Off events encourage healthy eating and support local agriculture while celebrating Farm to School Month and highlighting the strength a community gains from farmer-school food service partnerships.
When is the Crunch Off?
The Crunch Off takes place annually in October. North Dakota Crunch events can occur between October 1 and 31.
How can I participate?
Register your “Crunch” event at this link. Registration closes on October 31.
Registration link here --> North Dakota Crunch Off Event Registration 2024 (office.com)
Bringing people together to crunch into local produce is a great way to add fun (and nutrients!) to gatherings that may occur at farms and gardens or in schools, daycares, and classrooms. Consider including students, teachers, food service staff, administrators, the PTA, and community members to help you plan and promote your event.
Source local. Reach out to your Amanda Olson for ideas on how to get in touch with local producers. Other ideas include checking in with the ND Department of Agriculture (Katrina Hanenberg, kmhanenberg@nd.gov) or searching for farmer’s markets in your area, using DoD Fresh, talking with your Distributor about sourcing local foods, and working with a local farmer or rancher.
Consider planning field trips and/or educational activities. There are many ways to include educational pieces about farming, soil, the water cycle, photosynthesis, or other relevant topics during the week or day of the Crunch. Farm field trips are a great way to help students get excited about local produce, learn more about the food system, and have a successful Crunch! If a field trip isn’t feasible, consider having a local producer visit your school or facility to speak or conduct educational activities in school gardens or classrooms.
CRUNCH OFF CONTEST!
Is your school, early learning, or childcare center planning a crunch off to celebrate Farm to School Month in October? We have some exciting news to share with you! The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is giving away a FREE Ag in the Classroom package for the most creative Crunch Off event!
Here are the details:
- Read the details on hosting a crunch off event here: https://www.ndda.nd.gov/crunch
- Register your crunch off event here: https://forms.office.com/g/Dpg9CGvUAf
- Take a picture of your event and email to kmhanenberg@nd.gov. Make sure to include your name, grade, school, and the details of why your event was so unique and should win!
- The winner will be selected by mid-November.
- What will you win? A teacher pack full of Ag in the Classroom materials and project supplies plus Fresh from North Dakota products for your classroom to sample!
Fresh From North Dakota Lunch Week is September 30 – October 4!
There isn’t any special registration to participate in this week's celebration of the wonderful food produced in North Dakota. You can celebrate however you feel is best. The whole meal doesn’t have to feature North Dakota foods. If you are celebrating October 1-4, register that as your Crunch Off event, too!
If you decide to celebrate North Dakota foods, please take photos. We love to see the amazing food you serve!
Ideas on how you can participate:
- Serving locally grown food like apples, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes, or sweet corn. Root vegetables will be great this time of year. Get in contact with your area’s producers. If you need help reaching out to a producer, please contact Amanda.
- Serving beef or bison, or another North Dakota protein item.
- Serve Baker Boy, Cloverdale, or another North Dakota company.
- Serve a dessert featured with local berries or fruits (apples, chokecherries, plums).
Did you know that there are over 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide? Fall is in full swing, and now would be the perfect time to introduce the children to the different varieties as part of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. We know there are more options than Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Gala. Work with your food distributor or local grocery store to bring in new varieties for the students to try. The apple varieties with a “*” have been developed by the University of Minnesota’s apple breeding program. Below are some options you may be able to find:
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Honeycrisp* – A juicy apple with a sweet-tart flavor that delivers great snappiness
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SweeTango* – A sweet, juicy, and crispy apple that some describe as biting into fall flavors
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Haralson* – A firm textured apple with a complex tart flavor.
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Zestar* – Crunchy, juice with a sweet-tart flavor.
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Lucy Glo – A yellow-skinned apple with a pink-red interior. It is crunchy with hints of berry.
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Cosmic Crisp – A vibrant colored skin that provides great crispness and sweetness.
One of the primary goals of the FFVP is to introduce children to a variety of fruits and vegetables. Remember, the goal of the program is for children to try different items, not to make them their snacks.
Are we doing the program justice by offering the exact same items that they see on the lunch line?
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 AWESOME Resources
Make sure you bookmark the Team Nutrition Resource Ordering guide, as you can get FREE stuff sent directly to the school kitchen. USDA recently announced that their stickers are back! Kids LOVE stickers, and you should love them too when they are FREE! Besides stickers, there are colorful posters, helpful brochures and handouts to explain program requirements to parents and even a few cookbooks. You order what you need here: USDA Team Nutrition (gpo.gov) or from the general Team Nutrition website: Team Nutrition | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov) and they are delivered to the school, FREE!
Please remember to submit your Food Safety and Sanitation certificate as the Lead Food Service worker for a school site operating the National School Lunch program. ALL site managers must have at least an 8-hour training in Food Safety and Sanitation prior to or within the first 30 days of hire.
- There is a ‘free’ certification class online at the Institute of Child Nutrition. (Food Safety in Schools - ICN iLearn (docebosaas.com))
- Another option includes taking the ServSafe course. ServSafe has also announced several classes to be held around the state in the coming months.
Sanitation certification is good for 5 years, at which time it must be updated with at least a 3-hour class. If yours is due, please send a copy of your training to dpicnfd@nd.gov.
Health inspections are rolling in already. One new comment from an inspection concerned the use of in-school washing machines to keep up with the laundry generated from the school food service. The note said: “The Washing machine utilized for kitchen towels needs to be maintained clean. A sanitize cycle needs to be run before use. Towels need to be washed in a sanitize cycle. A separate washing machine should be obtained to utilize for kitchen items only.”
Most of our larger schools are paying for a service to collect and launder all the towels, cloths, aprons, potholders and other pieces to ensure sanitation. However, if your school district does the laundry in-house, it would be a good idea to put together a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the washing machine so everyone does it the same way. This set of instructions would be helpful for anyone to know where to turn the machine on, how much soap to use and when to run a sanitize cycle to make sure that kitchen linen is clean and ready for use.
Missing legumes (beans, peas, lentils subgroup):
Each school operating the National School Lunch program has the responsibility to plan menus that offer at least ½ cup of beans over the week whether the week is 3 days, 4 days, 5 days or even 7 days long.
Are you looking for what vegetables credit towards the vegetable subgroups? Reference page 42 in your ND Lunch Production Record book or click on the resource below to add interest to your bean, peas, and lentils offerings.
Bee Grants
Deadline: October 15, award amount: $1500 or an indoor observation hive.
This grant program allow for schools and non-profit organizations to receive support for educational beehives and bee programming so students can observe bees up close and learn about the vital role these pollinators play in our food system.
Fruit Trees For Your Community
Deadline: Applications accepted on rolling basis, no deadline.
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries. APPLY NOW for an FTPF Orchard!
Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Fund
Deadline: November 15, 2024
The Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program (SFE) is named for Wild Ones lifetime Honorary Director Lorrie Otto. Lorrie’s life work with students, young and old, was to cultivate wonder, reverence and awe for Nature and all Her creatures. For more than 25 years, this vital Wild Ones donor-funded program has provided grants ranging from $100 to $500 for native plant gardens and landscaping projects throughout the United States. The funds are designated for acquiring native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that engage youth (preschool to high school) directly in planning, planting and caring for native plant gardens. Applications for the 2025 planting season must be submitted online during the application period, which is from July 14th – November 15th, 2024. Awards will be communicated to recipients by February 15th, 2025. Apply for 2025 Planting Season
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