Happening Now
Colorado
FTS Curriculum Resources
The Colorado Farm to School Task Force's Curriculum Work Group compiled existing FTS curriculum resources for a variety of grade levels and topic areas. This spreadsheet is easily searchable and can help point you towards some great resources. If you have any updates or additions, please contact Sophie.
Colorado Produce!
Check out this video from the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. It's a great reminder to purchase Colorado Proud whenever possible.
Colorado FTS Task Force goes to Oak Creek!
The Colorado Farm to School Task Force headed to Oak Creek for its Quarterly Meeting on November 4th - check out our picture this month and this article in Steamboat Today for more about the meeting! A BIG thank you to our hosts and the South Routt community. If you'd like to join us for our next meeting, please feel free to contact us.
USDA Census Data shows benefits of FTS
We're not exactly surprised, but preliminary results of the USDA FTS census show benefits of FTS programs! For example, 75% respondents reported at least one of these positive outcomes thanks to FTS programs:
- Reduced plate waste (17%)
- Improved acceptance of the healthier school meals (28%)
- Increased participation in school meals program (17%)
- Lower school meal program costs (21%)
- Increased support from parents and community members for the healthier school meals (39%)
If your district has not yet completed the census, USDA is still accepting surveys here.
Inside School Food Episodes
Heritage Radio Network has four FTS episodes for listeners: sharing stories about urban NJ, tribal communities supplying their schools with bison from their herds, and examples of creative new strategies for procurement and promotion from Iowa and Wisconsin.
National Farm to Cafeteria Conference and RFPs
The 2016 theme for the National Farm to Cafeteria Conference is: Moving Forward Together. It aims to lift up new and innovative partnerships to continue building momentum and ensure long-term sustainability in the movement. The conference will be in Madison, WI next June. Conference organizers have released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for conference workshops, posters and lightening talks. If you've got something you'd like to share, the RFP is open through December 4th.
Western SARE Grants
The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program has also released a call for proposals for Farmer/Rancher Research & Education Grants for 2016. The submission deadline is Dec 2, 2015, 1:00 pm MST.
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