7/20/26 S.S.T.A.R. - Child and Adult Care Program Newsletter

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 07/20/2026 03:50 PM PDT

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) S.S.T.A.R.: Week of July 20, 2026

Sponsor Spotlight: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin
Update: Announcing Harvest of the Season!
Update: Resources from the National CACFP Association (NCA)
Update: Resources from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN)
Farm to CACFP Corner
Important Dates to Remember

Sponsor Spotlight: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin—Powering Up Interest in Fresh and Local Foods

During school year (SY) 2025–26, child nutrition program sponsors from across the state participated in Power Up Your Program courses to enhance their programs through nutrition education, culturally inclusive meals, and marketing and promotion strategies.

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction is excited to highlight different ways that participants have boosted engagement and partnerships, enhanced their menus, and expanded opportunities for food and nutrition education.

Boys and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin— Market and Farm Field Trips Inspire Early Learners to Taste Fruits and Vegetables

Jessie Pelham, Child Nutrition Coordinator at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Columbia Basin, worked hard to incorporate more fresh and local foods into afterschool and summer meals. In partnership with a local farmer, she organized a farm field trip, where club members explored fruit orchards, learned how fruit is grown, and enjoyed freshly picked apples.

Jessie also partnered with the Moses Lake Farmers Market to organize three market visits, where children connected with local farmers, sampled new foods, and blended their own pedal-powered fruit smoothies on a smoothie bike. Through these visits, Jessie connected with additional local farmers and a college nutrition faculty member, sparking ideas for future collaborations to purchase local fruits and vegetables and create new nutrition education opportunities.

Upcoming Training Opportunities Outside of OSPI

Virtual Coffee Chat: Farm to ECE and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Date: August 10
Time: 11 am

Register

Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN)

CACFP: Nurturing Healthy Habits: Promoting Positive Eating Behaviors in Children

Enroll

ICN

CACFP Effective Communication

Identify techniques to engage and educate families about the CACFP

Date: July 21
Time: 12 pm

Enroll

Interested in Powering Up Your Program?

In SY 2026–27 and beyond, the Power Up Your Program Canvas courses will be available in a self-guided format and open to all Child Nutrition Program sponsors. Watch upcoming S.S.T.A.R. newsletters for an announcement when the Canvas courses open for enrollment.

Update: Announcing Harvest of the Season!

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is excited to announce the launch of Harvest of the Season! Funded by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School Grant, Harvest of the Season is a comprehensive initiative to support Child Nutrition Program operators incorporate foods from Washington into kitchens, classrooms, and homes.

For each of the 24 local foods featured, resources include:

A short video that introduces the item and gives ideas for how it can be served in Child Nutrition Programs.
Cafeteria Connections that give tips for crediting, storing, and preparing the food.
Classroom Connections that include activities that encourage children to try and engage with the food.
Family Newsletters that provide content sponsors can send to families so they can continue to enjoy Harvest of the Season at home.
Colorful poster image files to print and use to promote the Harvest of the Season.

In addition to the food-specific resources above, there are general resources that can help support adopting Harvest of the Season:

A seasonality wheel to help with menu planning and promote seasonal eating.

Sourcing guides for child nutrition programs and for families with tips for finding the item from large-scale food purchasing to the grocery store.

This initiative was completed with generous support from the partner planning group.

Find all these resources on OSPI’s new Harvest of the Season webpage.

Update: Resources from the National CACFP Association (NCA)

Meal Pattern Minute: Crediting Types of Beans, Peas or Lentils

Beans, peas, and lentils, oh my! Learn how to credit one of the most flexible foods in the CACFP as a vegetable or a meat/meat alternate in this Meal Pattern Minute.

Meal Pattern Minute: Crediting Vegetables

Un-beet-able nutrition. Learn more about crediting raw and cooked vegetables in the CACFP in this Meal Pattern Minute.

Meal Pattern Minute: Creditable Smoothie Components

Drink up this Meal Pattern Minute to learn how the ingredients in smoothies credit in the CACFP.

Meal Pattern Minute: Offering Water

Dive into the requirements for making water available in the CACFP in this Meal Pattern Minute.

Recipes

Resources

Webinars

Virtual Coffee Chat: Farm to ECE and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

Date: August 10
Time: 11 am

Register

Update: Resources from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN)

Summer is for traveling and lunch on the go. Learn about safe meals for field trips in the July MealTime Memo.

Virtual Training

Families play an important role in helping children eat healthy foods.

Join ICN to break down the CACFP in simple, easy-to-understand terms and show how it supports children’s growth and development. Participants will learn simple ways to talk with families about the CACFP to build strong relationships.

CACFP: Effective Communication About the CACFP
Date: July 21
Time: 12 pm

Register

Farm to CACFP Corner

Save the Date: Taste Washington Day 2026

Taste Washington Day is October 7, kicking off a month of activities recognizing National Farm to School (and CACFP) Month.

Taste Washington Day is an opportunity to showcase Washington-grown foods, connect children with local agriculture, and celebrate the important role that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs play in supporting healthy communities. Sponsors and providers are encouraged to start planning now. Ways to participate include:

local menu features
taste tests
educational activities
partnerships with local farmers and food producers

Additional resources and celebration ideas will be shared in late summer and early fall.

Important Dates to Remember

July 21	ICN Effective Communication webinar
August 10	Virtual Coffee Chat: Farm to ECE and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

ADA NOTIFICATION FOR OSPI CHILD NUTRITION SERVICES EVENTS
To arrange accommodations for persons with disabilities for OSPI Child Nutrition Services events, please contact the Child Nutrition Services Team at 360-725-6200, TTY 360-664-3631, or by email, child.nutrition@k12.wa.us at least three business days before the event. Please note that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require OSPI to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

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This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.