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June 3, 2014 | Volume 3, Issue 11
  Farm to School Census Website Relaunched with Final Results and New Features
Final results of the USDA Farm to School Census are now available! USDA and the Secretary of Agriculture will be
highlighting this milestone on Monday, June 9, during the White
House Rural Council meeting focused on local and regional food systems. For more information on how to virtually tune in to the
White House Rural Council meeting, visit www.usda.gov. Until then, here are a few new features to explore:
The new data includes more than 1,500 new and updated
responses. 9,896 school districts completed
the Census, increasing the response rate to 75%. The total dollars invested in local communities during the
2011-2012 school year increased to $385 million! Click here to check out the national overview >
Census data is now searchable and publicly
available. Users can conduct customized searches and download
information at the national, state, and school district level in a visually
rich and easy to navigate format. Click here to check out the data explorer >
Census infographics featuring both state and national data are available for download. The relaunched site features several new graphics that depict results, and the images are available as high resolution JPGs. Click here to check out the media kit >
Questions about the Census? Email us at farmtoschool@fns.usda.gov.
Webinars
Using DoD Fresh to Purchase Local Foods ~ June 12, 2:00 pm EDT
During the second to last webinar in our Finding, Buying, and Serving Local Foods series, we will focus on the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The webinar will begin with an overview of how the program
works and a few examples of states and districts that are augmenting their farm to
school efforts with produce procured through DoD Fresh. Then, we'll hear from Texas Department of
Agriculture representatives about how they have successfully worked with three DoD Fresh
vendors to create a Texas Farm to School Calendar and offer Texas-grown
products throughout the year.
To register for this webinar or any future sessions, please
click here. For a complete schedule of webinars
in this series, click here.
For more information about purchasing local foods through DoD Fresh, check out our fact sheet on the topic!
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 Bits from Blogs
California Food for California Kids, Especially on Thursdays
I collect aprons like other people collect coins. There are dozens hanging in my kitchen, so many I suspect several have never actually been used. So it was with some self-consciousness that I accepted yet another apron last fall from the Center for Ecoliteracy.
The Center was handing out hundreds of aprons to California school food service directors along with recipes for healthy school meals. At the Palm Springs Convention Center, tables were lined with ingredients, tools of the trade such as mixing bowls and measuring cups, and two burner stoves. Our task was to locate our group and get cooking; we’d be making lunch not for hungry children but for hungry conference attendees at the California Food for California Kids conference... MORE >
Stay up-to-date on all the latest USDA news and stories on the USDA Blog!
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