To be added to our monthly e-newsletter, so you’ll hear about all of the exciting news and events each month, email rachel@dcfarmtoschool.org with your name and organization. To share and receive more frequent updates, sign up for our google group by entering your email to the left.
Holt Introduces Farm to School Bill to Fight Childhood Obesity
U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) has introduced legislation that would create a Farm to School grant program to fight childhood obesity and support local farmers.
Washington Post: DC School Puts Fresh Food on the Lunch Table
Click HERE to read more about E.W. Stokes’ efforts to give their students fresh food. EW Stokes is in communication with local growers to get local food for the cafeteria, as well.
Taking Root: 5th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference
May 17-19 2010. Registration opens on February 22nd. Get all of the information on their website!
The Let’s Move Campaign in relation to DC Public School’s Food
‘To Make School Food Healthy, Michelle Obama has a Tall Order’, by Ed Bruske
National Farm to School Bills
Please read this PDF to learn more about farm to school policy initiatives on the national level.
‘Real Food Is’: National Video Contest
Students are challenged to define what real food means to them by creating a short video that completes the phrase “Real Food is…’ This contest is open to students of all ages; Deadline=March 29. The winners receive $1,000. and all-expense paid trip to the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference. Learn more HERE.
Cooking up a Change: A National Healthy Cooking Contest for High Schoolers!
“Using only ingredients commonly available for food service, your mission is to create a healthy meal that includes a locally grown item from your area, meets strict nutritional guidelines, and tastes great.”
Step 1: A three person team submits a recipe, along with supporting documents
Step 2: Three teams of students will be selected to go to The National Farm to Cafeteria Conference this May to compete in the finals!
Get all of the information HERE.
Rooting DC: An Annual Garden Forum
A free day-long urban gardening and food access workshop! Andrea will speak in one of the panels.
February 20th: 9:30-4:00 pm at The Historical Society of Washington
Register by calling: 202-638-1649; Download this flyer to learn more.
Listen to the ‘Slow Cook‘, Ed Bruske, on the Kojo Nnamdi Show
Ed Bruske discusses local food politics, including his most recent series ‘Tales from a DC School Kitchen‘. Listen to the podcast.
Secretary Merrigan Discusses Plans for the Local Food Movement, Including Farm to School
At the recent EcoFarm conference, Merrigan discussed her agricultural goals for the coming years, including expanding the National Organic Program, continuing the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food‘ program, and evaluating and aiding Farm to School Programs. Read the entire article HERE.
Huffington Post Article on Child Nutrition
Click here to read about Huffington Post’s support for the upcoming CNR bill and Farm to School programs.
Reserve a Field Trip Spot to the Washington Youth Garden
The Washington Youth Garden at the Arboretum offers a free field trip program for local schools, youth organizations, and summer camps. SPROUT (Science Program Reaching Out) is a ninety minute, one-time environmental science and nutrition lesson that can be adapted for kindergarten through twelfth graders.
Students will have the opportunity to explore our one-acre organic fruit and vegetable garden, have a hands-on gardening experience, and participate in an educational nutrition activity featuring a healthy snack.
The program is for a minimum of 15 students per group, beginning in April. Download the reservation form HERE.
National Farm to School Network Webinar
A webinar about the National Farm to School Network is available free online. After clicking on this link, scroll down the page to access the webinar.
Brief Summary: “The National Farm to School Network aims to bring local and regional food directly from farms to school cafeterias across the country. Learn the latest about the important and synergistic efforts of one of the NGFN’s new partner organizations.
The webinar will cover key aspects of farm to school initiatives that are getting more good food to more students, all over the country. Leaders of the National Farm to School organization will describe their strategies, the network and the services they provide and update us on recent Congressional activity. A representative from USDA’s farm to school “tactical team” will talk about how they are supporting farm to school efforts and how USDA has prioritized the farm to school concept.
Do You Want a Healthier America? ACT NOW!
The One Tray Network (consisting of the National Farm to School network, the Community Food Security Coalition, and School Food FOCUS) is leading a campaign for mandatory funding for Farm to School programs in the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR). Please call or write to your representative and express your support for Farm to School programs!
The White House chefs are now offering tours for school groups of the White House Kitchen Garden.
Learn more HERE. As of now, tours are limited to local schools in the DC region. However, please note, that ‘local’ has many definitions and that the more interest the tours generate, the more likely the White House is to expand tour offerings.
Recap of Local Flavor Week:
Local Flavor Week this past September was a HUGE success! About 80 schools participated by serving local produce in their school meals and/or organizing fun events for students such as garden visits, farm field trips, cooking demonstrations and more. Local Flavor Week
Highlights and Summary: View the PDF!
Read the Local Flavor Week Press Release HERE.
LFW Resources for Students, for Teachers, for Parents, for Food Service Providers and Watermelon Activities!
Attention Food Service Providers! The 2008 Farm Bill allows schools to list a LOCAL preference in the bid language for unprocessed (washed vegetables, eggs, etc) agricultural products. Schools are now allowed to specify a geographic location, such as ‘apples from Virginia’. Learn more about the Farm Bill
here.
Exciting News! Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan announced an initiative to connect children to where their food comes from and to provide more local foods in school lunches. Read the press release
here.
Listen HERE to a podcast of
The Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU 88.5AM from August 26, 2009. Topic: Getting Healthy School Food into Cafeterias
Contact: Andrea Northup, andrea@dcfarmtoschool.org, (202) 526-5344 x298
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