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Ohio Farm to School Quarterly Newsletter
Cultivators + Classrooms + Cafeterias
Issue # 21 | March 2024
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Welcome to the March quarterly edition of the Ohio Farm to School Newsletter. This edition features news and updates from across the state including a feature on growing farm to school initiatives at Cincinnati Public Schools in the Southwest region!
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2023 National Farm to School Census - Final Completion Results
The 2023 USDA Farm to School Census is now closed. Data collected from the census will continue to inform farm to school policy, funding, and resources at the local, state, and national level. A formal report of the findings is anticipated to be released in Fall 2024.
Ohio had a 68.3% completion percentage with 852 of 1,247 school food authorities submitting the census. Ohio came extremely close to the Midwest completion percentage of 68.9% and was above the national completion of 66.8%! Great work!
Thank you to all schools that completed the survey!
Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Farm to School Manager, Rebecca Rodriquez, Talks About the National Farm to School Network’s Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice
Rebecca (Becky) Rodriquez is the Farm to School Manager at Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She recently was accepted as a member of the National Farm to School Network’s first Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice.
At CMSD, Becky works to coordinate various farm to school programs including nutrition lessons in the classroom, working with local food producers to add more fresh items to menus as well as fruit and vegetables bars, and collaborating with new stakeholders to advance health, wellness, and nutrition initiatives. She markets CMSD’s farm to school initiatives through social media and trains staff on the importance of incorporating local, fresh, scratch-prepared foods in meal programs.
You were recently selected as a member of the National Farm to School Network’s Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice. Can you explain the purpose of this group?
The National Farm to School Network is an organization dedicated to helping schools, childcare centers, and other partners interested in expanding farm to school programs. They know schools and school districts want to do more farm to school programming, but do not necessarily know how to get started.
The Farm to School Coordinators of Community Practice will be working together as a group to figure out the logistics of farm to school and how to help schools tailor those logistics to their specific needs. Farm to school requires those involved to be logical and methodical in implementation on how food gets from farmers' hands to the breakfast and lunch trays of children. It also requires creative promotion, community collaboration, training and education, and many other moving parts in between.
The program also provides a space for us coordinators to gather and share our wins and challenges with others that just “get it” – which is validating. Being a Farm to School Coordinator is still not a super common role in schools. I consistently explain my role to friends, family, and colleagues. Helping more schools understand why a role like mine is important is another goal of this program.
You mentioned there are a total of eight Farm to School Coordinators Community of Practice members, can you describe the makeup of the group?
In our first meeting it was interesting to learn about everyone’s backgrounds. I think they (The National Farm to School Network) intentionally picked people who were newer to their role (under two years in the position) and from a variety of career backgrounds, ages, and geographic regions. It seems they wanted folks who were figuring out how make farm to school work in their organizations write guidance and resources in “real-time” for others to learn from. I think that is something that will make the end products of this program super impactful.
It has been interesting to learn from the other members. We have several members that are trained chefs, including myself, while others come with a background in agriculture. Both knowledge bases are key to understanding and executing farm to school at the highest level. Blending our knowledge and experience together is something I think those selecting the program participants had in mind. Members of our group also come from a variety of geographic regions across the United States. Regional differences also play a part in farm to school and what local options schools can offer. What schools can provide in colder climates up north is much different than the local options in areas like San Diego or Georgia.
What Farm to School projects are on the horizon for Cleveland Metropolitan School District?
Cleveland Metropolitan School District has been the first site approved in the state of Ohio to host eight FoodCorps service members for school year 2024-2025! FoodCorps members will work on farm to school at several of our school sites across the district. Ideally, we hope to have each school with a FoodCorps member have a hydroponic lettuce tower garden as well as microgreens kit, and a fruit and veggie bar for the cafeteria. The members will provide nutrition education to students and encourage healthy choices during mealtimes. Each school hosting a FoodCorps member will also participate in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
I am also working on developing more programming with community partners. Currently, we are working with the Children’s Hunger Alliance to provide weekend food boxes and produce bags at a few of our schools, with the plan to add more.
Finally, we are continuously looking to buy local and support community businesses through our meal programs. As we begin to plan menus for the 2024 – 2025 school year, we have already started reaching out to Cleveland-area farmers to see what items they may have available for purchase. We want to make scratch cooking a priority and are taking small steps that can have a big impact on the food choices our students have!
Applications are now open for FoodCorps’ next cohort of AmeriCorps members. Visit foodcorps.org/apply to apply and learn more about FoodCorps expanding to Ohio.
To connect with Becky, send her an email at rebecca.rodriguez@clevelandmetroschools.org
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Want to be featured in the next monthly newsletter and on Ohio's Farm to School Website? Share your farm to school success stories with us!
Cincinnati Public Schools Leverage Community Partnerships to Grow Farm to School Across the District
The power of farm to school initiatives lies in the ability to create sustainable partnerships with diverse stakeholders. At Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), farm to school partnerships have been key to their growing success.
Rothenberg Preparatory Academy located in the Over the Rhine neighborhood, boasts a rooftop garden and learning space. Students spend time in the garden during the school day and through afterschool programs led by garden educators from the Rothenberg Rooftop Garden Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to sustaining the rooftop garden space. They grow a variety of vegetables and herbs throughout the year. Produce from the rooftop garden is used in parent and community cooking classes in the school.
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At Aiken High School, career tech students can attain real-world agriculture operations experience by running the school farm. The Aiken High School farm led by agriculture teacher, Aaron Parker, consists of over 20 raised beds, a high tunnel, chickens, and goats. Currently the school is working with Green Umbrella to establish a new Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification program specially tailored for school-based farm and agriculture programs. Getting GAP certified would allow Aiken High School Farm to provide fresh, school-grown produce to the CPS food service department.
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Upcoming Events & Promotions
Virtual Farm to School Showcase – Local Produce Edition: A primary activity among farm to school programs in Ohio is the purchase of locally grown or produced foods to serve in school nutrition programs. Farm to school programs provide children the chance to taste fresh, locally grown produce, and provide growers the opportunity to have their products showcased in meal programs.
Please join the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) for a virtual networking event on Thursday, April 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. This event will connect Ohio produce farmers with food service directors interested in buying local produce to serve in the USDA Child Nutrition Programs.
The Farm to School Showcase will provide farmers the opportunity to present on the products they grow, their delivery schedule, delivery radius, enrichment opportunities offered to school-aged children, and more to interested schools, childcare centers, and non-profit institutions. Food service directors will receive a contact list to allow for further connection with farmers following the conclusion of this event. This event is open to growers and school food service directors. There is no fee to participate. Contact Hannah.Hart@education.ohio.gov with any questions.
If you are an interested grower, please submit a Farm to School Showcase Grower Interest Form by March 22 and a representative from DEW will contact you.
If you are an interested sponsor of USDA Child Nutrition Programs, register on the Claims Reimbursement and Reporting System Training Management page.
Farm to Summer Celebrations: Summer is coming up! If you are a summer meal provider or a partnering organization participates in the Summer Food Service Program or the Seamless Summer Option, consider offering local food items as part of your meal program, as a taste test, or as part of a learning activity.
Celebrate Farm to Summer by purchasing and crunching locally and regionally grown cucumbers for a Cucumber Crunch event in June! K-12 schools, early care and education sites, hospitals, colleges and universities, farms, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, local businesses, groups, and even households can register to Crunch this year! Anyone who wants to show support for local farmers and school food can join!
Members of The Ohio State Extension celebrating Cucumber Crunch Day – June 2023
The Farm to Summer Challenge recognizes sponsors for participating in Farm to Summer activities. Child nutrition sponsors completing the challenge will be featured on the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School website and receive a Gourd, Silverbeet or Broad Bean award from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. To be recognized, take part in at least one activity from one of the challenge areas:
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Eat: Serve locally grown food or eat a locally grown cucumber for Cucumber Crunch Day.
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Grow: Participate in a gardening activity, take an agriculture related field trip or host a gardening professional, such as Master Gardener for a lesson.
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Engage: Share your Farm to Summer activities through social media, local media coverage, a newsletter, a website, or other engagement channel.
Follow the links below to register your Farm to Summer Celebrations:
Cucumber Crunch Sign-Up
Farm to Summer Challenge Sign-Up
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Grant Opportunities
Grow Ohio Grant
The Office of Nutrition is now accepting applications for the 2024 Grow Ohio Grant program. The Grow Ohio Grant is funded through 2022 State Agency Non-Competitive Farm to School Formula Grant awarded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Grants aim to support child nutrition program sponsors in providing innovative activities that create agricultural education opportunities for participating children through farm to school projects such as outdoor or indoor school gardening, hydroponics, collaborations with local food producers, and food literacy. Grant awards range from $5,000 - $40,000.
Visit the Department’s Grow Ohio Grant webpage for additional information.
This grant closes on May 15, 2024, at 11:59 EDT.
Grow Ohio Grant technical assistance webinars will be hosted on the following dates for interested applicants:
- Thursday, March 28 from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
To register for a webinar, please visit the Training Management page of the Claims Reimbursement and Reporting System (CRRS).
Fruit Trees For Your Community Grant
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is dedicated to planting fruit trees and plants to alleviate world hunger. FTPF programs strategically donates orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, and Native American reservations.
Learn more about the FTFP grant and apply. Applications are received on a rolling basis.
Trainings & Webinars
Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons Train the Trainer Sessions
Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons (GTS) is a successful way to get into schools and engage youth in growing lessons that are data driven and teacher informed!
The GTS book uses three growing methods including indoor and outdoor gardens as well as hydroponics. GTS connects hands on gardening with language arts, science, math, technology, arts. Each month plants are grown, harvested, and a recipe is provided for students to taste test. In addition, GTS has an online Scarlet Canvas course filled with 20 supplementary modules of helpful information.
Register for a GTS Train the Trainer session below:
April 2 go.osu.edu/gtstrainthetrainerapril2
April 3 go.osu.edu/gtstrainthetrainerapril3
Attendees will receive a copy of the finished Growing Teachers Throughout the Seasons book, as well as seed packets for vegetables grown in the guide!
Finding Your Future in Food Systems Webinar Series
Are you an emerging food systems professional? Finding Your Future in Food Systems provides participants with connections and insights to help them identify next steps for their careers as food system professionals. The series features speakers from job-creating organizations, agencies, and businesses, some working locally in their communities, others with national and international scope. Learn more and register for the sessions here.
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Celebrate National Nutrition Month in March!
Participating in farm to school activities can have a positive impact on the overall nutrition and wellbeing of children throughout their life. For example, research has shown that school gardens improve student knowledge related to eating healthy and positively impact academic performance.
This year's National Nutrition Month theme is "Beyond the Table," which addresses the farm-to-fork aspect of nutrition, from food production and distribution to navigating grocery stores.
Here are a few ways to celebrate going “Beyond the Table” during National Nutrition Month:
- Host a taste test featuring local fruits and vegetables either on their own or as part of a new recipe.
- Take a field trip to a farm or host a farmer as a guest speaker to talk about what they do.
- Decorate the cafeteria with National Nutrition Month® posters or banners, table tents and balloons. Create a "take one" display with National Nutrition Month® brochures, bookmarks and Eat Right nutrition tip sheets.
- Explore low-salt ways to flavor food with herbs, spices, or citrus. Allow children to experiment with the flavors they like best.
- Create a "nutrition question of the day" contest sent by email or posted on a display board. Draw the name of a daily prize winner from those who provided the correct answer.
Meetings
Ohio Farm to School Network Quarterly Meeting
Mark your calendar for the next Ohio Farm to School State Network meeting on March 14, 2023. For more information on Ohio Farm to School, visit the website and Facebook page.
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Thank you to the following newsletter authors & contributors:
Rebecca Naab, Farm to School Education Program Specialist at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
Becky Rodriquez, Farm to School Manager, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Green Umbrella and Cincinnati Public Schools
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