2. Register for special CACFP Week training opportunities
Sharpen your skills and add food adventures to the mix with these ICN and National CACFP Association trainings:
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CACFP Meal Pattern Trainings in Spokane and Olympia
OSPI is partnering with the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) to host an exciting, in-person training on the CACFP meal pattern. For more details about this training and registration, please refer to the 1/14 C.A.R.E. newsletter.
Spokane
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Olympia
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
*Registration closes February 24.
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Discovering Goodness Through Food Adventures Webinar
Attend the National CACFP Association's free CACFP Webinar to explore creative ways to bring food to life, whether it’s growing herbs in a garden, whipping up something in the kitchen, making snack time interactive or hosting taste-testing adventures.
Date: March 16, 2026
Time: 2–2:30 pm
3. Download free resources to celebrate CACFP Week & promote your program
Visit the National CACFP Association’s CACFP Week web page to learn more about CACFP Week and download sample menus, activity sheets, social media graphics, promotion strategies, and more to celebrate CACFP and showcase how you “stir up goodness!”
Harvest of the Month
OSPI’s Harvest of the Month resource sheets help sponsors feature seasonal, Washington-grown foods. March's Harvest of the Month is bok choy. Each sheet includes fun facts, nutrition highlights, selection and storage tips, recipe ideas, and activities.
Access the bok choy resource sheet on the Farm to CACFP webpage under the Harvest of the Month drop-down menu. If you don’t have access to leeks near you or want to feature another local food item, check out past Harvest of the Month resource pages on the OSPI Farm to CACFP webpage under the Harvest of the Month drop-down menu.
For support sourcing Harvest of the Month items, email farmtocnp@k12.wa.us.
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Funding Opportunity
Food Justice for Kids Prize (Applications open February 17, 2026)
Awards: Up to $100,000 over two years to support innovative efforts that increase children’s access to nutritious, culturally relevant food at school and in communities.
Eligibility: Nonprofits, Tribes, schools, and school districts in the United States working in areas such as nutrition education, school meals, or Indigenous food engagement.
Nomination period: February 17–April 21, 2026
Application period: February 17–April 28, 2026
Informational webinars:
• February 27, 2026 (12:30 pm PT)
• March 25, 2026 (1 pm PT)
Review eligibility requirements and apply on the grant webpage.
Upcoming Learning & Events
ASPHN Farm to ECE Evaluation Webinar – Part II: Measuring Your Farm to ECE Impact
Interested in strengthening your Farm to ECE efforts? This webinar highlights simple strategies for tracking progress and identifying areas for growth. Presenters will walk through how to use the Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) framework to support continuous improvement in Farm to ECE and related public health initiatives.
Date: March 10, 2026
Time: 2-3 pm EST
 NW Food Hub Summit
Mark your calendars to join local food producers, food hubs, state agency representatives, local food system advocates, and community members in collaboration and network with the NW Food Hub Summit in March 2026!
When: March 12, 2026 2 – 8 pm and March 13, 2026 8 am – 4 pm
Where: Hemmingson Center at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA
How to Register: Registration closes Friday, February 27, 2026
Resources
Go NAPSACC Farm to ECE Self-Assessments (Bilingual)
Looking to strengthen your Farm to CACFP efforts? The Go NAPSACC Farm to ECE Self-Assessments (available in English and Spanish) help centers and family child care homes reflect on their local food practices, gardening efforts, food education activities, and family engagement strategies.
Use the tool to identify strengths, set goals, and plan next steps for growing your Farm to CACFP impact.
Access the bilingual self-assessments here.
Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice – Bi-monthly Networking Calls
The Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice is part of the WA State Farm to School Network. Members include school food directors and staff, local producers, food hubs, farm to school coordinators, and other farm to school supporters. Bi-monthly networking calls are a place to connect, share resources, celebrate wins, ask questions, share challenges, and brainstorm solutions.
Step 1: Join the Network (if not already a member)
Step 2: Join the Local Food Sourcing Community of Practice
Step 3: Register for the next call - Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 2 – 3 pm on Zoom
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