Food brings everyone to the table – and celebrating agriculture is more important now than ever, especially for our farm to school community! As we come together to celebrate National Ag Day, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Office of Community Food Systems is reflecting on the amazing work our Farm to School Grantees are doing to deepen relationships between communities and local agriculture, even during these challenging times.
On February 25th, communities across Wisconsin celebrated farm to school and local foods with the third annual Wisconsin Chili Lunch (WCL). Over 111 different sites, including 62 K-12 school districts, 24 early care and education (ECE) sites, healthcare institutions, schools, colleges, community organizations, and families served more than 38,000 bowls of chili to celebrate local farmers, healthy eaters, and strong communities. The goal of the WCL is to create strong connections between Wisconsin farmers and eaters and demonstrate how cafeterias can serve Wisconsin grown - even in winter. This event provides a fun way to practice local food procurement and promotion.
The WCL is funded in part by a 2019 USDA Farm to School Implementation Grant awarded to La Crosse County Health Department and in collaboration with the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. This statewide event supports local food purchasing by encouraging cafeterias to serve a chili dish made with local ingredients while highlighting Wisconsin farmers. The WCL inspires nutritious school meals, supports farm to institution initiatives throughout the State, and encourages year-round purchases of local foods.
One shining star of the celebration was an ECE site, Apple Ridge Academy in Berlin, WI. They sent prepared chili home to families along with notes from their children and instructions on how to celebrate the WCL at home. Included were informational cards from Loppnow Farms and BrynTeg Farm, the local farmers whose meat and veggies were featured in the chili! Serving locally and regionally grown ingredients in cafeterias makes for quality meals, supports local economies, and connects people to the people and places that grow their food. You can relive the fun by visiting the WI Chili Lunch Facebook page and find foodservice friendly recipes in the WI Chili Lunch guide.
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USDA Extends Free Meals to Children through Summer 2021 Due to Pandemic
On March 8th, 2021, USDA announced the nationwide extension of several waivers that allow all children to continue to receive nutritious meals this summer when schools are out of session. These flexibilities are now available through Sept. 30, 2021. Read more HERE.
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Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Coronavirus Stimulus
USDA AMS is seeking feedback through public comments regarding the possible development of a new grant program. The coronavirus (COVID-19) Stimulus Package, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, authorized no less than $1.5B for grants and loans to small or midsized food processors or distributors, seafood processing facilities and processing vessels, farmers markets, producers, or other organizations to respond to coronavirus. The funding also provides for the purchase and distribution of food and agricultural products, including seafood, fresh produce, dairy and meat products to individuals in need. AMS is actively seeking feedback from groups and individuals to share their views on how USDA can best target these resources to help mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural industry and communities in need of nutrition assistance. More information on how to submit a public comment by March 31, 2021 is located HERE.
Open Enrollment at HealthCare.gov
The COVID-19 public health and economic crisis is bigger than any other we’ve seen in our lifetimes — leaving millions of families struggling to afford food and other necessities. In addition to the urgent crisis of food insecurity – with as many as 30 million adults and 14 million children struggling to get enough to eat – millions of Americans are experiencing new health problems during this pandemic. As part of his all-of-government approach to addressing the current crisis, President Biden has created an emergency special enrollment period to allow individuals and families to apply and enroll in the coverage they need. People seeking health insurance can go to HealthCare.gov right now, until May 15th, to learn more.
State Agencies Learn How to Develop Standardized Recipes Using Local Agricultural Products
During March 2021, representatives from 15 State recipients of Fiscal Year 2021 Team Nutrition Training Grants for School Meal Recipe Development (Cohort A) will participate in recipe standardization training led by Chef Patrick Garmong and the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN). The Team Nutrition grantees are receiving the virtual “train-the-trainer” instruction to assist them as their States work to develop new standardized school meal recipes that include local agricultural products. In addition to recipe training, State grantees are also implementing innovative ways to engage students in the recipe development process, including virtual cooking competitions!
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service recently announced a second funding opportunity for State agencies looking to develop school meal recipes using local agricultural products. The Fiscal Year 2021 Team Nutrition Training Grants for School Meal Recipe Development (Cohort B) Request for Applications (RFA) is open and applications are due by 11:59pm EDT on April 18, 2021. For additional information, visit the Team Nutrition website at https://www.fns.usda.gov/grant/rfa-2021-team-nutrition-training-grant-school-meal-recipe-development.
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New Toolkit Developed By State Agriculture Departments
Inspired by State agriculture departments’ unique ability to form partnerships across the food supply chain and influence food and agriculture policy, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture created the NASDA Food Security Toolkit to analyze existing State food security programs and partnerships, and offer resources for others to create programs that eliminate food insecurity in the United States. The NASDA Food Security Toolkit provides examples of more than 20 successful programs State departments of agriculture have implemented through several forms of partnerships. NASDA members understand that no one group, State or organization can take on the issue of food insecurity alone and succeed. For more information on the NASDA Food Security Toolkit or to inquire about partnering with your State department of agriculture, visit NASDA.org/FoodSecurity.
2021 Northeast Farm to Institution Summit
Register now for the 2021 Northeast Farm to Institution Summit, hosted on April 1,8,15, 2021! Stakeholders from across the Northeast region will gather in collaboration to advance the Northeast’s farm, food, and sea businesses - and healthy, just communities. Who should attend? Newcomers and pioneers alike: food service operators, producers, supply chain businesses, advocates, public officials, funders, and anyone dedicated to the farm to institution movement. Visit www.f2isummit.org for more information.
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Innovations Happening in Farm to CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program)
National Farm to School Network celebrated National CACFP Week (March 14-20) by highlighting innovative and inspirational programs across the country that are working to better align farm to early care and education (ECE) and increase awareness and participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. On National Farm to School Network's blog, read about the Local Food Makes Cents: For Iowa Kids and Farmers incentive program, Arizona's CACFP Farm Fresh Challenge, and how a CACFP matching survey in Colorado is connecting farmers and CACFP providers. Read more HERE.
Nourish Colorado Healthy Food Systems Webinar Series
Nourish Colorado hosted a three-part webinar series this winter on healthy food incentives, healthy food in institutions, and healthy food systems policy. Special local and national guest panelists shared how Nourish Colorado, along with so many others across the country, are creating multiple wins and strengthening food environments from the consumer - to the local producer - to the economy. Check out this compelling three-part webinar series and share out with your networks! Nourish Colorado is a Fiscal Year 2019 Farm to School Training Grantee.
New Center for Regional Food Systems Newsletter
Michigan State University’s Center for Regional Food Systems has launched a quarterly newsletter to share brief updates about their work, partnerships, and impacts so you can stay informed about what they’re up to – like new editions of An Annotated Bibliography on Structural Racism and learnings from the Michigan Farm to Institution Network and Michigan Farm to Early Care and Education Network. See an example of content from their most recent newsletter. Subscribe now to receive these updates in your inbox!
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