Hello Farm to Fork Friends!
Summer is in full swing! We hope that you are enjoying the sun and hopefully harvesting from your gardens or visiting farmers market for local produce! Speaking of farmers markets, did you know that National Farmers Market Week is August 6-12? Check out our Get Involved section to learn how you can participate.
What to Harvest this Month
Tomatoes are here! As are all our other delicious summer superstars like eggplant, zucchini, and basil. Check out our Harvest of the Season recipe for Cheesy Ratatouille Pasta. This recipe was developed especially for Utah schools by Chef Cyndie and her talented team at Culinary Solutions. Let us know what you think-- tag us on social media @utfarm2fork on Instagram and @utahfarmtofork on Facebook.
Get Involved!
Celebrate National Farmers Market Week
Utah legislators and local agriculture partners will be having a kickoff press conference on Wednesday, August 2nd at 3:30 pm at the IRC New Roots Redwood Farm. Come visit an inspiring local agriculture program and hear from a variety of speakers.
Do you work for or with a farmers market? Farmers Market Coalition will hook you up with a free promotional toolkit to help you boost market attendance and visibility. Register for the toolkit here.
Register for the Greatest Crunch on Earth!
Apple Crunch Day will be here before you know it-- it's always the last Wednesday in October, which this year falls on October 25th. This is a great intro to farm to school if you're just getting started. And if you're an old pro, it's a great way to show off all that you can do. Learn more about the event and register here. Schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program are able to count local apples purchased for the event towards their enhanced local reimbursement.
Resources and Trainings
How to Host a Site Visit
Are you planning a special event this fall (like Apple Crunch Day)? Showcasing your program in person is one of the most impactful ways to advocate for farm to school. Some officials may have never heard of farm to school or related efforts before, and site visits are a great opportunity for them to learn more. This recorded webinar from the National Farm to School Network covers how and why to host a site visit for government officials at any level. If you'd like help planning a visit of your own, please reach out to us at contact@utfarmtofork.org.
Nibbles and Sprouts Officially Launches!
Our friend Dr. Bonnie just launched her pediatric culinary coaching practice, Nibbles and Sprouts. Dr. Bonnie (a board certified pediatrician and professionally trained chef!) aims to provide evidence-based insights to help parents of children ten years old and younger learn to prepare wholesome foods their children will eat, and to help children savor foods that are healthiest for them. This is an especially great resource for our childcare centers and family daycare home providers. Check out the great information available on her website.
Food Justice
Equitable Language: Why It Matters
August 31, 2023, 11:00 am MT
Words have power and the way in which we do our work relies greatly on how we communicate and engage with the audience we are trying to reach. Our language - from the words we use in our communication tools and events, to terminology, framing and representation – can have an immense impact on the communities we serve. Using equitable language is a skill that can be learned and applied-- this 1.5 hour webinar will help participants identify strategies for using equitable language in community engagement work. Although geared toward prevention professionals, the techniques are broadly applicable in farm to fork work as well!
Job Opportunities
Do you have a farm to fork job opportunity you'd like us to share? Let us know! Jobs must be located in Utah or fully remote.
Funding Opportunities
Bee Grants
Are you interested in hosting bees at your school? The Bee Grant program through Whole Kids Foundation allows for K-12 schools or non-profit organizations that serve any grades K-12 to start a new or enhance an existing bee program hosting live bees on their campus. The application opens September 1st, so now is a perfect time to start planning. Learn more here.
USDA Farm to School Technical Assistance Cooperative Agreement
This opportunity is for 501c3 nonprofits or Indian Tribal Organizations. Awardees under this cooperative agreement will undertake projects supporting USDA’s priorities of Food System Transformation, Improving Child Health through Nutritious School Meals, and Indigenous Food Sovereignty. To learn more and apply, view the opportunity on grants.gov. The application closes October 10, 2023.
Be sure to share your upcoming events, grant opportunities, and jobs with us so that we can share them here!
