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Farm to Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) Newsletter
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New Episodes: We have new episodes of the Farm to School Podcast! Check out the latest Farm to School Podcast episodes below!
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Educating Kids Through Music: The Banana Slug String Band - Part 1
In our quest to explore the different methods of educating kids about their food and the environment, we bring you a new way we haven't explored yet on this program: Educating kids through music! Join us as we talk to members of the Banana Slug String Band, a band that's celebrating their 40th Anniversary at the time of this posting and their journey through the years.
For show notes, podcast transcripts and contact information please visit the OSU Farm to School Podcast website.
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Join us for our second part in a two-part series in our quest to explore the different methods of educating kids about their food and the environment: Educating kids through music. We continue our discussion with members of the Banana Slug String Band, a band that's celebrating their 40th Anniversary at the time of this posting and their journey through the years.
For show notes, podcast transcripts and contact information please visit the OSU Farm to School Podcast website.
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The Farm to School Podcast is a project by Oregon State University (OSU) and Oregon Department of Education (ODE), funded by the USDA. It is hosted by Oregon Farm to School coordinators Rick Sherman of ODE, and Michelle Markesteyn from OSU.
They're a Farm To School grantee doing great things in the community. In today's Oregon Harvest for Schools segment, we learned about a local organization connecting kids with nature and nutrition. Jason Skipton, Executive Director of Growing Gardens joined us to share more about the many benefits of school gardens and how grant dollars help! For more information about Growing Gardens, visit growing-gardens.org.
Watch the full segment here!
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On behalf of the Oregon Farm to School Network, ODE Farm to CNP is excited to share this opportunity:
The Oregon Farm to School Institute brings teams together to foster connections, develop skills, and create a collaborative action plan tailored to their schools. Guided by a coach, your team will work throughout the school year to implement your plans, enhancing your ability to make lasting changes in your classrooms, cafeterias, and communities!
Learn more about this opportunity and apply here.
Upcoming Dates
Additional questions? Please reach out to melina@oregonfarmtoschool.org.
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Registration is open until February 10th for the 2025 Junior Master Gardener National Leader Training! This is a virtual training conference designed to empower participants in establishing and growing sustainable school and youth garden-based programs. This popular event is targeted at teachers, administrators, Extension faculty, staff, volunteers, and professionals in garden, nutrition, and health programs. Accessible exclusively through a fun and engaging online format, the Training offers valuable insights and practical strategies.
Learn more and register on their website.
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The Ag Education Award rewards student organizations, non-profit organizations, or classrooms that promote and educate Oregonians about agriculture and extend the Oregon Ag Fest mission beyond its annual, 2-day, interactive event.
Cash prizes up to $2,000 may be awarded to as many as 3 winners annually. Entries are due by March 15, 2025.
The application for Ag Fest's award can be found on their website: Participate – Oregon AG Fest
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USDA Farm to School Census - 2023 Findings pt. 4
It's our goal that participation in farm to school activities has positive effects on the foods served in schools. So it's very exciting to have hard data that shows these positive outcomes!
Positive outcomes of SFAs from farm to school participation: 69% Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, 68% increased access to better quality foods, 57% increased positive perception of school meals among staff (compared to national results, 61%, 57%, and 48%, respectively).
ODE is here to help! We offer information on our website about purchasing and preparing local foods. Once you've checked that out, connect with your Regional Hub Coordinator to see what other technical assistance is available in your region!
To learn more about farm to school and how schools can buy and serve local foods in school meals, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/f2s/farm-to-school. You can find additional farm to school Census data at https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/.
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USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Opportunity
The fiscal year (FY) 2025 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program requests for applications (RFAs) are now open. This USDA administered grant program is designed to increase the availability of local foods in schools and connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Grants can launch new farm to school programs or expand existing efforts. Learn more and apply on the USDA website.
**Please note, this grant program is administered at the federal level and is separate from the state-administered ODE Farm to CNP Grant Program.
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Local Food For Schools (LFS) Grant
The USDA Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, (or, the LFS Grant for short), is a Federal, one-time award that enables State Agencies to reimburse School Districts for local foods that meet certain criteria.
In 2025 the Oregon Department of Agriculture will administer the LFS grant. ODE will provide updates and information via our newsletter as it becomes available.
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Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)
The 2024-2025 FFVP Awards have been announced. The grant period is October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. CNP Permanent Agreements have been rolled out and FFVP subgrant holds are beginning to be lifted. Awardees should continue to submit their claims for review.
New this year:
• To be eligible for rollover to the next FFVP grant period (SY 2025-2026), at least one FFVP claim must be submitted by the SY 2024-2025 March deadline. This will allow ODE sufficient time to calculate and announce the next SY’s FFVP award amounts. Monthly claim deadlines are available on the ODE FFVP webpage
Curious what other schools are purchasing with their FFVP funds? Here is a list of fruits and vegetables purchased during the 2022-2023 school year.
Any questions can be sent to us at FarmtoCNP@ode.oregon.gov.
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Noncompetitive Reimbursement Grant
All NSLP, CACFP and SFSP CNP sponsors were automatically opted in to receive a Noncompetitive Reimbursement Grant for the 2023-2025 biennium (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2025).
The Grant’s start date is retroactive and you can submit claims for items purchased starting July 1, 2023 when your Grant Agreement has been signed and returned to ODE.
In past years, there has been a Progress Report required halfway through the grant biennium. This biennium a Progress Report is not being required, instead ODE is tracking purchases through reimbursement claims submitted. Instead of the hour you would have spent filling out a progress report, we encourage you all to make the time to find new connections with Oregon producers, and source new food to expand youths' palates!
Curious what other schools are purchasing with their funds? Visit the Farm to CNP Reimbursement Grant webpage for grant resources. Visit the Oregon Harvest for Schools Portal for a directory of Oregon producers ready to sell to schools!
Please let the Farm to CNP team know at FarmtoCNP@ode.oregon.gov if you have any questions.
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Starting in the 2025–2027 grant biennium, the list of reimbursement-eligible items will be updated to prioritize Oregon agricultural products and processed foods containing Oregon agricultural products
Starting in the 2025-2027 biennium grant cycle, pizza products, tortillas, and tortilla chips will no longer be eligible for reimbursement through the Farm to CNP Reimbursement Grant.
- Pizza products include, but are not limited to:
- Pizza (whole or slices), pockets, sticks, bites, crust, dough, etc.
- Tortilla products include, but are not limited to:
- Hard and soft shells, wraps, chips, etc.
The 2023-2025 grant biennium allowables/ unallowables remain unaffected by these changes.
Competitive Reimbursement Grant
The Competitive Reimbursement Grant is a separate sub-program that is available again this biennium. A Request for Application (RFA) has been developed and is available for applications. The Competitive Reimbursement Grant is only available for Sponsors that use all their available Noncompetitive Reimbursement Grant Funds. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed in the order they are received. Recipients of rounds 4-6 were recently notified about their awards. Future awards may be granted as additional funding becomes available.
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Education Grant
Awards for the 2023-2025 ODE Farm to Child Nutrition Program Competitive Education Grants have been announced. A full list of awardees is now available on the Education Grant website.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at FarmtoCNP@ode.oregon.gov.
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February 1-28, 2025 | Vol 6 Issue 2
Questions or suggestions for future issues?
Please send an email to the Farm to CNP team at FarmtoCNP@ode.oregon.gov.
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