NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL PODCAST

New Episodes: We have new episodes of the Farm to School Podcast! Check out the latest Farm to School Podcast episodes below!

Remarkable Academic Foods

What if you ran the Nutrition Service Department and you needed help... someone to help to provide training, kitchen design, or "strategic solutions leadership?" Join Rick and Michelle as they chat with Joshua Miller, the Founder and Principal Consultant with Remarkable Academic Foods, who tells his journey in his mission to help transform school meals.

For show notes, podcast transcripts and contact information please visit the OSU Farm to School Podcast website.

Katherine Pryor first wrote a story when she was seven years old. She's been chasing the feeling of how the story made her feel every day since then.. Fast forward to today, when she's published ten children's books, most of which are award winners. Join Rick and Michelle as they talk to Katherine as she shares her journey of writing about kids' experiences with growing food, among other stories.

Teaser: Join us next time for "Student Ecoliteracy.. The Publisher!"

For show notes, podcast transcripts and contact information please visit the OSU Farm to School Podcast website.

This segment features Lola Milholland, co-founder of Umi Organic. Lola shares how their Farm to School grant helps make it possible to produce for schools, and what kids think of their noodles.

Watch the full segment here!

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

USDA Farm to School Census - 2023 Findings pt. 5

Participation in Farm to School activities is increasing nationwide! From 2019-2023 the percent of School Food Authorities (SFAs) that did at least one farm to school activity increased from 65%-74%. Wow! That number accounts for 34,038,095 students doing at least one farm to school activity.

And in Oregon? 90% of SFAs did at least one farm to school activity in 2023! That percent accounts for 1,163 schools and 484,340 students in Oregon! 

ODE's Farm to CNP grants directly support increased SFA participation in farm to school activities. From school gardens, to 

Exciting news—Farm to School participation is growing across the country! Between 2019 and 2023, the percentage of School Food Authorities (SFAs) engaging in at least one Farm to School activity jumped from 65% to 74%. That means an astounding 34 million students across the nation got to experience hands-on learning about local food, agriculture, and nutrition.

And here in Oregon? We’re leading the way! In 2023, an impressive 90% of SFAs participated in at least one Farm to School activity. That translates to 1,163 schools and nearly half a million students (484,340, to be exact) connecting with fresh, local food in cafeterias, classrooms, and school gardens.

A big driver of this success? ODE’s Farm to CNP grants, which help schools grow their Farm to School programs—whether it’s planting school gardens, sourcing local foods, or offering hands-on culinary education.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

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/.

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.

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 being 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​.

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.

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. Future awards may be granted as additional funding becomes available.

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.