WUP Farm to School Conference

Tuesday May 19, 10am-2pm EDT
Wintergreen Foods
18334 Highway M-38 east of Ontonagon, Michigan

Farmers and school officials from around the Western U.P. region will meet in Ontonagon May 19 to discover ways to serve more locally produced food in school meals, classes and events.Wintergreen Farm and Foods of Ontonagon will host the Farm to School Conference, sponsored by Western U.P. Health Department and the U.P. Food Exchange. Speakers from MSU-Extension, the Marquette Food Co-op, and Jeffers High School’s Every Day Healthy-One Day Local program will talk about how to purchase local produce, meat and dairy for healthier school meals.

The conference is planned for 10 am to 2 pm at Wintergreen Foods, formerly the Candlelight Restaurant, on highway M-38 east of Ontonagon. A light lunch will be served. Admission is $5, paid at the door, but people must pre-register by emailing Ray Sharp at rsharp@wuphd.org, with “Farm to School” in the subject line and the number attending in the body of the email. Local food producers, and school representatives including teachers, administrators and food service staff, are invited.

Programs

educational events and opportunities

Plant Swap in Marquette

Saturday May 16, 1-3pm EDT
Graveraet Elementary School
611 N Front St, Marquette, MI 49855

The Transition Marquette Seed Co-op, MQT Growth and Superior Acre Permaculture are sponsoring a plant swap at Graveraet Elementary School. The more people that participate the more opportunities everyone will have to bring home plants.

North Farm Extension Workshop Series: Low-Cost Season Extension Technologies and Techniques

Saturday May 16, 2-4:30pm
North Farm at UPREC
E3774 University Drive, Chatham, MI 49816

Extending the season does not have to be cost prohibitive. Come learn about low‐cost ways of gaining weeks in the spring and fall. We will discuss low tunnel and high tunnel technologies, row covers, and crop selection to make sure you can keep producing into the back side of the calendar.

Contact Collin Thompson at 906‐439‐5059 or thom1264@anr.msu.edu with questions. Registration can be accessed at: www.events.anr.msu.edu/NorthFarmWorkshops15/

Save the Date: School Gardening Workshop for Grade K-12 Teachers and LSSI Community Partners

Monday, June 15, 9am–3:30 pm
104 Great Lakes Research Center
Michigan Technical University, Houghton

Workshop topics include: why garden?; garden design; gardening resources, integrating gardening into the curriculum, season extension including low tunnel hoop houses; tips and tricks for successful school gardening.

Presenters include:

Kathryn O’Donnell, FoodCorps Member MSU Extension Chippewa Co
Quincy Higgins Arney, MTU Master Gardener
Joan Chadde and Lloyd Wescoat, Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and MTU Center for Science and Environmental Outreach
Arnie Kinnunen, Western Upper Peninsula Health Department

Cost: $30 per person includes lunch and resource materials. Free to LSSI teachers & community partners. (Limited to 25 teachers)
Credit: SCECHs ($10)
Register: 2015 School Garden Workshop Registration or go to http://wupcenter.mtu.edu/
Questions: Call 487-3341 or email jchadde@mtu.edu

Experienced and beginning gardeners welcome! This workshop is sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative and the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department

News

announcements and dates to remember

UPREC Newsletter

Check out what's going on at the UP Research and Extension Center by reading the latest newsletter.

Michigan Value Added Producer Grant

What does this program do?
The Value Added Producer Grant program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the goals of this program.

Program Status:
• Application Date: July 2, 2015 for electronic applications, July 7, 2015 for paper applications
• Estimated Program Funding: $30 million
• Maximum Grant Amount: $75,000 for planning grants; $200,000 for working capital grants
• Matching Funds Requirements: 50% of total project costs

Who may apply for this program?
Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures are eligible to apply for this program. How may funds be used? Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include processing costs, marketing and advertising expenses, and some inventory and salary expenses.

You will find additional forms, resources, and program information at www.rd.usda.gov

Central Food Hub Upcoming Meetings

UPFE Policy Commitee Meeting

(First Tuesday of every month)

Tuesday June 2, 9am at the Marquette Food Co-op

CUP Farm to School Committee Meeting

(First Friday of every month)
Friday June 5, 9am at the Marquette Food Co-op

Contact Natasha Lantz at nlantz@marquettefood.coop or 906-225-0671 x 711 for more information about CUP food hub committees.

Western Food Hub Upcoming Meetings

WUP Food Hub Steering Committee

Tuesday May 26, 6pm at the Health Department in Hancock, 540 Depot Street, behind McGanns Hardware in the blue building. Contact Ray Sharp at (906) 482-7382, Ext. 163 for more information.

Eastern Food Hub Upcoming Meetings

EUP Food Hub Steering Committee

(Third Wednesday of the month)
May 20, 9-10:30AM CLM Conservation District Office

Please contact Michelle Walk at walkmich@msue.edu or 906-635-6368 if you would like to become involved in this committee.

EUP Healthy Food Access Commitee

(First Thursday of the month)
June 4, 10:45AM-noon Sault Tribe Health Center Auditorium

Please contact Heather Hemming at hhemming@saulttribe.net if you are interested in being involved with this committee.

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