Hello Farm to Fork Friends,
Happy New Year! We’re celebrating some farm to school wins in the Federal budget for fiscal year 2021, including a whopping $17 million for the Farm to School Grant Program, and $2 million in CDC funding for farm to ECE work. What are you looking forward to this year? Share your farm to fork goals and inspirations with us @utfarm2fork.
What to Harvest This Month
It’s time to dig in (haha) to the storage crops, like beets. Roasted beets just can’t be beat! Try a mixture of red, golden, and striped beets for a beautiful and healthy side dish. Or add some beets to your next batch of hummus for a bright pink pop on a dreary winter day. Not ready to jump on the beet bandwagon? Potatoes are another delicious and nutritious choice that’s available this time of year.
Get Involved
Farm to Fork Task Force Quarterly Meeting Join us for our next quarterly meeting, January 13, 2021, from 2-3 pm. We’ll be sharing updates on projects and making plans for the summer. The meeting will be held via WebEx (meeting number:133 022 9063; password: XqpZSp3K6T7). See you there!
Webinars and Trainings
Integrated Pest Management The USU Extension Integrated Pest Management Team is hosting four webinars in January that will focus on different vegetable crops and the common insects and diseases that can affect them. Each of the webinars will cover common diseases and insect pests of various market crops. All presentations will include pest biology, identification, monitoring, and control options. Growers Q&A will follow each presentation. • Jan 11 (7 PM) Pests of Leafy Greens • Jan 13 (7 PM) Pests of Root Crops • Jan 18 (7 PM) Pests of Onions • Jan 20 (7 PM) Pests of Potatoes Sign up for one or more of the webinars here.
Improving Equity
5th Annual National Day of Racial Healing W.K. Kellogg Foundation invites you to join them on January 19, 2021 for the 5th annual National Day of Racial Healing. The day will be centered around experiences rooted in truth-telling that lead to racial healing for a more just and equitable future. Learn more and RSVP here.
Job Opportunities
Create Better Health Ambassador, USU Extension, Panguitch USU Extension Create Better Health (SNAP-Ed) program in Garfield County is seeking a qualified individual to provide direct education on basic nutrition, cooking skills and physical activity to youth and adults both online and face-to-face (as situations allow). This is a part-time (20 hours/week) position that pays $12.50/hr. Learn more and apply here. AmeriCorps Harvest Leader, The Green Urban Lunch Box, Salt Lake City Learn how community organizing can save fruit trees in our city and feed those in need. The harvest leader will perform fruit tree pruning, lead community harvest events, and coordinate food donation. This is a 900-hour AmeriCorps position that includes a living allowance and education award. To apply, email a cover letter and resume to katie@gulb.org by January 10, 2021. Click here to learn more about The Green Urban Lunch Box. If you are hiring on either the farm or fork side of farm to fork, let us know and we’ll share the job posting here!
Funding Opportunities
USDA Farm to School Grants Don’t miss out on your chance to apply for a USDA Farm to School Grant. The deadline is January 8, 2021. Learn more here and then apply on grants.gov. Young Farmer Grant Program If you’re a farmer or rancher between 18-40 years of age, you are eligible to receive $5,000 to support you in building your agriculture career. The application deadline is January 15, 2021. Learn more and apply here. ¡Tambien disponible en español! Community Food Projects Grant Program The USDA NIFA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program RFA is now open. Awards of up to $400,000 are available for projects designed to increase food security in communities by bringing the whole food system together to assess strengths, establish linkages, and create sustainable systems that improve the self-reliance of community members over their food needs. Applications must be submitted through grants.gov no later than May 4, 2021. Gro More Good Grassroots Grant The 2021 Gro More Good Grassroots Grant provides funding for new and existing youth garden programs and greenspaces serving 15 or more youth. Winners will be selected based on their commitment to the maintenance and sustainability of their garden program including plans for growth and future fiscal stability. This grant is open to all nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations (including schools) in the United States and US Territories. The application should open this month, sign up here to be notified when it does.
You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!