Here Are Your Updates, Including Some Local Offerings in Yellow

Hello everyone,

Here are your updates, including some local offerings in yellow…

Open Positions

1.Join Farm to School Americorps in Reno: Urban Roots is a nonprofit located in Reno Nevada that is run by our Nevada State Lead for school gardens, Jeff Bryant. They have some great farm to school-based Americorps positions open:

Funding & Grants

1. Update: Pilot Project for Unprocessed Fruit and Vegetables
Updated vendorapplication formsfor the USDA’sPilot Project for the Procurement of Unprocessed Fruits and Vegetablesare now available on the Agricultural Marketing Services website. More information about the pilot project can be found on the AMSwebsite.

2.Upcoming deadline for federal food and farm programs

Planting season is upon us, which means deadlines for federal farm and food grant programs are too! For farmers, ranchers and groups who work with producers, the next few months are critical for successfully completing these applications on time.National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionhas compiled a list of upcoming deadlines for federal food and farm grant applications and grant assistance workshops. If you farm or work with farmers, consultthis listand share with those you know.

Webinars & Events

1. UVM Food Systems Summit, June 16-17, Burlington, VT

“The Right to Food: Power, Policy, and Politics in the 21st Century”

All people deserve access to adequate, nutritious food. The complicated and provocative question for the fourth annualUVM Food Systems Summiton June 16-17 is how to provide this basic human right. The UVM Food Systems Summit is an annual event drawing scholars, practitioners and food systems leaders to engage in dialogue on the pressing food systems issues facing our world. To learn more and register, visit the UVM Food Systems Summitwebsite.

Policy & Action

1. Second Bi-Annual Farm to School Census

The USDA Farm to School Census is a crucial tool for gathering information about the state of the farm to school movement. The first census was conducted in 2013, and USDA is now seeking updated information through the 2015 USDA Farm to School Census. The Census questionnaire wasdistributed to school districts through state agenciestheweekof March 16. School district submissions must be received byMay 29, 2015. Questions about the Census? Please .

2. Tell Congress you support the Farm to School Act of 2015

Tell Congress you support the Farm to School Act of 2015 bysigning a letter of support as an individualor on behalf of yourorganization. TheFarm to School Act of 2015builds on the success of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 by proposing an increase in funding from $5 million to $15 million for theUSDA Farm to School Grant Program. The bill would also ensure that the grant program fully includes preschools, summer food service sites, after school programs, and tribal schools and producers while improving program participation from beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. To learn more, download thisfact sheetor visitfarmtoschool.org/cnr2015.

Farm to school in the news

This video features Portland Public Schools on antibiotic-free chicken: (for more context, here’s a great blog post we did about the Ecotrust event that inspired that KGW piece:

In Grand Prairie, Budding Gardeners Toil In the Soil And Reap Rewards

Educators say the benefits of school garden range from kids learning about healthier food to improving their social and emotional health. In Grand Prairie, there’s an elementary school that goes way beyond the traditional school garden. KERA News

Local foods: Red hot, but undefined

While the standards for "local" food can be complex, consumers - including many school districts - have been clamoring for locally produced products. This article includes good data points about the recent growth in this demand. Politico

Field-to-Fork inspires students to eat healthy

The Food Literacy Project in Kentucky works to provide nutrition education and programs in schools where students, armed with the knowledge of healthy eating, can spark community change. Courier Journal

This content has also been archived on our blog:

Webinars & Events

1.Webinar: Colorado Farm to School Task Force, Wednesdays, April 8 - May 6, 5 p.m. EST

Evaluation Made Easy: How to Evaluate your Farm to School Activities

The fourth (and last) five-week training series on the Farm to School Evaluation Toolkit from Colorado Farm to School Task Force and Spark Policy Institute starts tomorrow. The series is free and made possible by a USDA Farm to School Grant. Participation in the live webinars includes the following benefits: eligible for five contact hours of continuing education credits, participation in the F2S Evaluation Toolkit Forum for peer-to-peer learning, and up to four hours of free technical assistance to plan/implement your F2S evaluation.Register here.

2. The Chef Ann Foundation Webinar,April 14, 1 p.m. EST

Your Guide to the Lunch Box

This webinar will feature a guided tour of the newly expanded school food resource website“The Lunch Box”and a Q&A with national school food expert Chef Beth Collins. The Lunch Box is dedicated to supporting school food service teams with technical assistants for shifting their food programs from a reliance on processed foods to developing whole food-based, scratch-cooked meals.Sign up here.

Policy & Action

1. Second Bi-Annual Farm to School Census

2. Tell Congress you support the Farm to School Act of 2015

Jobs & Opportunities

1.Kid Chefs: Join the Fourth Annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge!

First Lady Michelle Obama is teaming up with PBS flagship station WGBH Boston, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to host the fourth annualHealthy Lunchtime Challengeto promote cooking and healthy eating among young people across the nation. The challenge invites kids ages 8-12 to join a parent or guardian in creating an original recipe that is healthy, affordable and delicious. One winner from each U.S. state, territory and the District of Columbia will be selected and have the opportunity to attend aKids’ “State Dinner”here at the White House this summer where a selection of the winning recipes will be served. Visitpbs.org/lunchtimechallengeto learn more about the Heathy Lunchtime Challenge and submit your recipe by April 30.

2. Garden Manager, Slide Ranch, Muir Beach, CA

Reporting to the Director of Operations, theGarden Manageris an integral member of the Ranch Operations Team. Specific responsibilities include all aspects of maintaining a certified organic garden, native plant restoration, teaching and training Slide Ranch Teachers-in-Residence (TIRs), work with program staff to utilize the garden as a teaching environment for youth education, train and manage garden volunteers, and provide sufficient produce for daily program lessons as well as for resident staff consumption. This position requires living on-site in housing provided by Slide Ranch. For more information, visit theSlide Ranch website.

3. Director of Development, Slide Ranch, Muir Beach, CA

Slide Ranch seeks aDirector of Developmentwho will manage all aspects of Slide’s Development Office: Annual Fund, Major Gifts, Special Events, Grants, Capital Campaign and Communications. The Director of Development reports to and works closely with the Executive Director to create and implement development strategies and practices that will help Slide Ranch sustain and grow its operations and fulfill its mission. For more information, visit theSlide Ranch website.

4. Request for Applications, Southern Regional Learning Lab Evaluator

TheFood Options for Children in the United States(FOCUS) Southern Regional Learning Lab (SRLL) engages seven school districts to leverage their combined buying power and redirect purchasing practices to access more wholesome food. The SRLL has just entered Phase One of a three-year implementation and is beginning work in two food categories: chicken and produce. FOCUS seeks an evaluation contractor (individual or team) that will work closely with program participants and staff to refine and implement an evaluation protocol designed during the SRLL Assessment Phase. The contractor will conduct evaluation activities for Implementation Phase One (April 2015 - June 2016) and ideally will continue over the duration of the project. Clickhereto download the SRLL Evaluation Contractor Request for Applications. Applications are due Sunday, April 19.

5. Food Services Director, Austin Independent School District

This position is the chief administrator for supporting the facilitation and implementation of program areas within Food Services. Incumbent provides instruction and technical supervision to staff on non-routine and policy matters, especially in areas requiring oversight to ensure compliance. More information can be found on the AISD careerswebsite.

Farm to school in the news

Why 2015 is a big year for child nutrition

The new Farm to School Act and the proposed renewal of federal child nutrition programs should make this an important time for kids and healthy eating.Mother Nature Network

How One Visionary Changed School Food in Detroit- YAY BETTI!! (NFSN Advisory Team)

With a focus on healthier foods and local farms, Betti Wiggins has led Detroit Public School’s +55K students through a food revolution.Civil Eats

Helping Food Hubs Connect Local Farmers To VT Schools

A new online tool made possible with a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to School grant connects new Vermont farmers and food producers with their local communities using food hubs.My Champlain Valley

This content has also been archived on our blog:

Best,

Stacey

Stacey A. Sobell, M.P.H. | Food & Farms Director | Ecotrust

721 NW 9th Avenue, Suite 200 • Portland, OR 97209

T (503) 467.0751 | F (503) 222.1517 |

*Please note that I work Monday through Thursday

Western Regional Leadand Farm to Preschool Lead for theNational Farm to School Network