USDA Farm to School E-letter June 25, 2013 | Volume 2, Issue 11 NEWS & UPDATES USDA Farm to School Program launches updated resource pages Whether you are just starting out or fine tuning a program that has been in place for years, the USDA Farm to School team has compiled resources from across the country to assist you in your farm to school efforts. Are you interested in learning about how to create a seasonal menu cycle or incorporate more local foods in the cafeteria? Check out the menu planning resources for materials from organizations like the Lunchbox and Massachusetts Farm to School Project. Need ideas for promoting your good efforts? The promotion and outreach resources provide examples of farm to school month posters, farmer trading cards and harvest of the month calendars. Be sure to check back frequently as we’re constantly updating the resources section, and please let us know if you’ve got a great resource to share. DoD Fresh vendor information now available The DoD Fresh website has also been refreshed! Now available on the site is an excel file that lists all DoD vendors distributing to schools, along with contact information for state agencies, farm to school coordinators and DoD regional representatives. For most vendors, a link directly to their contract is also listed. This information will help vendors and state agencies work more closely with state farm to school coordinators. Perhaps a vendor is interested in sourcing more local products, but does not know where to look. Enter the state farm to school coordinators. Or maybe a district just needs a quick reference for their vendor’s phone number. This list will be a one-stop-shop for DoD contact information providing transparency and open communication between partners. BITS FROM BLOGS From West Virginia to Ohio, Food Fuels the Local Economy West Virginia and Appalachian Ohio have a lot in common beyond their shared state border. With a strong agricultural heritage, these vast rural areas are known for their forest and timber industries, and they are integrating food systems into local economic development. Earlier this month, I joined Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Co-Chair Earl Gohl and Ohio’s State Rural Development Director Tony Logan to take a look at local food in the Buckeye state. My colleague, Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Joani Walsh, recently made a similar trip to West Virginia. Organized by ARC, the visits were an opportunity to discuss how local food is diversifying the economy, developing a more competitive workforce and generating opportunities within regions like Appalachia. “Through our work on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative, we know that there are lots of ways that local foods are providing economic opportunities in rural communities,” said Walsh. “These visits with ARC gave us a clearer picture of how that is happening in Appalachia.” MORE > USDA Helps Make Nutrition Education Fun For Kids Research shows that students with healthful eating patterns tend to do better in school, and it’s important that children begin learning about food and nutrition when they’re young. In support of that goal, the Food and Nutrition Service recently released three free sets of curriculum educators can use to empower children to make healthful food choices and develop an awareness of how fruits and vegetables are grown. The Great Garden Detective Adventure curriculum for 3rd and 4th grades includes 11 lessons, bulletin board materials, veggie dice, fruit and vegetable flash cards, and ten issues of Garden Detective News for parents/caregivers. Kids will discover what fruits and vegetables are sweetest, crunchiest, and juiciest through investigations and fun experiences connecting the school garden to the classroom, school cafeteria and home. MORE > Stay up-to-date on all the latest USDA news and stories on the USDA Blog! Farm to School - Learn more at fns.usda.gov./farmtoschoolor contact us at [email protected]. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact support@govdelivery. This service is provided to you at no charge by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:00:14 +0000
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