Think local with MyPlate, MyState

Volume 2, Issue 30, October 12, 2016

USDA celebrates farm to school month
MyPlate, MyState Map

Think Local and Show Us Your Plate

MyPlate Menu

MyPlate, MyState is the newest component of MyPlate, MyWins. MyPlate, MyState asks: What foods, flavors, and recipes is your state/territory known for, and how do they fit into your healthy eating style?

Foods and flavors from every state and territory in this nation can help us all create lasting healthy eating styles. Healthy eating styles are not rigid plans, but rather can be adapted to include foods that you enjoy that meet your personal and cultural preferences and fit within your budget.

Coloring Sheet Nevada

Personalizing your plate with your favorite local and seasonal foods may be the key to help you create recipes and balanced meals that work for your healthy eating style! Additionally, MyPlate, MyState brings communities together to increase awareness and appreciation for local farmers, ranchers, and producers.

Throughout October, follow MyPlate on Twitter and Facebook for more ways you can engage with #MyPlateMyState; we will highlight state agricultural activities, emphasize seasonal foods, and celebrate fun food holidays, like Pumpkin Day!

MyPlate, MyState Louisiana Map

Additionally, every state and territory has a specific state page on ChooseMyPlate.gov; look to these pages for information on foods commonly grown, raised, or produced in your state and much more. Each state page also has coloring pages and graphics to download.

We hope everyone shows pride in their state, their local foods, and their plates by posting #MyPlateMyState photos. Show creativity, be colorful, and get healthy!


Watch this farm to school video

Schools Are Making a BIG Impact

Watch this new video to learn how farm to school is making a difference all across the country. Take one small step and share this video across your networks!


Take the #F2SCrunch Challenge

USDA Team Crunches
Pictured above from left to right: Samantha Benjamin-Kirk, Kristie Hubbard, Danielle Fleury, Lauryn Hong, Andrea Northup, Rachel Spencer, Jenna Segal, Jerilin Nunu, Matt Benson, Christina Conell, Matt Russell

There are farm to school crunches happening across the country this October! Check out these events for inspiration:

We wanted to join the fun! The USDA team gathered a few weeks ago and we took a minute to crunch into some local apples.

We challenge you to show us your #F2SCrunch!


Celebrate Farm to School Month with One Small Step - Watch a webinar!

We're partnering with the National Farm to School Network, USDA's Rural Development agency, and the School Nutrition Association to share information throughout the month.

Toddler with parsnip

Bringing Local to our Littlest Eaters

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 3:30 5:00 PM ET

Serving local foods in meals, snacks, and taste tests is a core element of farm to early care and education and contributes to numerous benefits for kids, farmers, and communities. However, understanding where and how to purchase local foods as well as how to incorporate them into early care and education meal programs can be a challenge. Speakers from the National Farm to School Network, USDA, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems, and early care and education providers will share tips for getting started, strategies for success, and innovative models that are advancing and scaling local purchasing practices in early care and education settings across the country.

Farm to School and the Role of Cooperatives – Producer and Buyer Perspectives

Wednesday, October 19, 2016 2:00 – 3:15 PM ET          

When our kids have the opportunity to eat delicious local fresh offerings at their school cafeterias, they may not realize there could be a co-op behind making those offerings possible. October is not only National Farm to School Month, but also National Co-op Month  so join us for a webinar that looks at the impact of cooperatives in local food sourcing at schools, with speakers providing perspectives from both the supply side and demand side of the equation.

October is Farm to School Month

SNA Webinar Wednesdays: Celebrating National Farm to School Month with USDA

Wednesday, October 26, 2016 2:00 3:15 PM ET

In celebration of National Farm to School Month, join SNA to learn about resources from USDA’s Office of Community Food Systems and how farm to school strategies can boost participation, reduce food waste, and increase consumption of fruits and vegetables. This webinar will showcase Doug Davis from Burlington School Food Project and Alex Emmott from Oakland Unified School District. We’ll also highlight small ways you can jump in.


Connecticut FoodCorps members serve blueberry smoothies

Farm to School Goes Year Round in the Northeast

Danielle Fleury, USDA Northeast Regional Farm to School Lead and Katina Kefalas, Program Specialist, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Northeast Regional Office

Over the past few summers, sponsors of USDA’s Summer Meals Programs have been elevating meal quality and encouraging program participation by serving seasonal menus, utilizing high quality ingredients, and providing nutrition education activities. We’ve heard of such farm to summer activities – the embedding of farm to school principles within summer meals programs – from practitioners all around the country. Here in the Northeast, summer 2016 brought a wave of coordinated programming, and National Farm to School Month is the perfect time to celebrate this trend that is supporting healthy kids and communities all year long!