Farm to Summer Week is so close we can almost taste the cherries!
Take the pledge and let us know you're participating in WA Farm to Summer Week, July 12–16!
OSPI celebrates the use of locally grown food in SFSP- use #WAFarmtoSummer to show off your meals and education happening that week.
OSPI Farm to Summer Resources
Questions? Contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist or Kendra Vandree, OSPI's Farm to Summer contact.
Are your meals appetizing, appealing, and nutritious? The USDA wants to recognize you!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Turnip the Beet award recognizes outstanding summer meal program sponsors across the country who work to offer high quality meals to children that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious.
Applications must be submitted to OSPI by August 4, 2021.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nominees must be a SFSP or SSO sponsor in good standing.
- Must operate between May 15 & September 15, 2021.
- Menus must feature appetizing, appealing, and nutritious meals that meet meal pattern requirements.
- Additional menu criteria include the following. Sponsors earn 2 points for each criteria met.
- Service of locally grown foods at least once a week per meal type
- Menu includes one hot food item per week per meal type
- Entrees repeat less than two times a month per meal type
- Minimum of different fruits vegetables offered each week per meal type
- Fresh produce primarily served
- Juice limited to two times per meal type per week
- At least 50% grains are whole grain-rich
- Sweet Grains limited to two times per meal type per week
- Only low-fat or non-fat milk is offered
- Availability of Water
- Bonus points may be earned if stricter criteria are met.
Application Information
Submit your nomination form & menu to summermeals@k12.wa.us.
Per guidance given in CACFP 12-2013, SFSP 14-2013, sponsors that operate both SFSP and CACFP At-Risk Meals are not required to monitor their sites following the SFSP requirements during the summer, in addition to monitoring those same sites again following the CACFP requirements during the school year. Instead, these sponsors may follow the CACFP monitoring schedule year-round.
If sponsors choose to follow the CACFP monitoring schedule year-round, one of the three annual reviews must occur during the summer.
Review for SFSP requirements:
- Include the review of a meal service.
- Must be unannounced.
- One review must occur during the summer.
Review for CACFP requirements:
- At least one must include the review of a meal service.
- At least one must be unannounced.
- Two reviews must occur during the school year.
USDA approved Washington state’s CACFP Monitoring Waiver request and has granted flexibilities for Sponsoring Organizations.
If you opted in for the CACFP Statewide Monitoring Waiver and intend to follow the CACFP monitoring schedule year-round to include your SFSP operation:
- Only 2 monitoring visits are required (1 SFSP & 1 CACFP).
- Both the SFSP & CACFP visit must include the review of a meal service.
- CACFP & SFSP visits may be announced.
USDA granted Nationwide Waivers to allow for all Child Nutrition Program monitoring to be done off-site. Please review the resources below for waiver information, instructions on how to “opt in” for available CACFP waivers, and helpful resources for conducting monitoring visits remotely.
Waivers Information & Off-site Monitoring Resources:
Questions? Please contact your Program Specialist.
Thank you for joining us over the past year for our webinars!
Here is the recording from our 6/30 meeting! We look forward to 'seeing' you in the next year.
Questions? Please contact your OSPI CNS Program Specialist.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a Federal Register Notice, Identifying Barriers in USDA Programs and Services; Advancing Racial Justice and Equity and Support for Underserved Communities at USDA.
USDA seeks to identify opportunities in current USDA policies, regulations, and guidance to address systemic inequities. The 30-day Notice will be available for public input until July 15, 2021.
Submit your comments regarding:
- How USDA can advance racial justice and equity for underserved communities
- How people of color and underserved communities and individuals may face in obtaining information from USDA.
- This includes accessing, enrolling, and participating in USDA programs and services, and engaging with USDA staff.
- How to best engage external stakeholders and community members representing marginalized, vulnerable, or underserved communities in order to increase participation in USDA programs, services, committees and decision-making processes.
In the months ahead, USDA will establish a Racial Equity Commission. The Racial Equity Commission will focus specifically on addressing systemic impediments to equity in USDA programs. USDA is asking for comments on any and all interactions with USDA programs. All comments will be aggregated, summarized, and shared with USDA Leadership and the Racial Equity Commission.
Questions? Please reach out to kelly.blondin@usda.gov.
The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.
Free Training for You and Your Staff Using iLearn!
The ICN's updated online learning portal, iLearn, provides self-paced, free online learning and offers users the flexibility to complete courses in multiple sessions. The iLearn portal can be used on desktop, laptop, or mobile devices.
View the course catalog today!
ICN added new features that enhance the eLearning experience, including:
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Personalized Profiles: Users can select English or Spanish and their Child Nutrition Program to complete their personalized profile.
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Online Courses in Spanish: iLearn includes ICN’s first Spanish online course, Nutrición 101 4ta Edicion. Users can also select Español in their profile for a translated online experience.
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iLearn @ ICN Mobile App: Child Nutrition Professionals can download the app and iLearn @ ICN on the go!
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Coming Soon - Live Webinars! Child Nutrition Professionals can register and attend ICN's scheduled live webinars on iLearn and keep all information and certificates in one location.
Questions? Please contact the ICN Support Team.
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July 12–16
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Farm to Summer Week!
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July 15
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June Claim Due in WINS
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July 30
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May Claim 60-day Deadline - if you haven't already, submit your claim
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