Hello Farm to Fork Friends,
We had a great time celebrating Apple Crunch Day last month. Over 68,000 of you crunched into Utah-grown apples and celebrated with us! We collectively spent over $30,000 dollars on apples for the event—what a great way to support our farmers. Special shout-outs go to The Green Urban Lunchbox and Guadalupe School for their 2nd annual cider pressing collaboration, the folks at Fowers Fruit Ranch for being fantastic farm to fork supporters and opening their farm for field trips, and the kindergarteners of Silver Mesa Elementary for once again making the Utah State Capitol the cutest place to be. If you celebrated, we’d love to see pictures and hear how it went—tag us on social media or email us at contact@utfarmtofork. If you didn’t participate, we’d also love to hear how we can make it work better for you. Farm to fork is for everyone!
What to Harvest This Month
It’s November in Utah! Lots of great storage crops are available, like apples, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, winter squash, and turnips. Hardy greens like arugula, chicories, escarole, and kale also grow well in this cool weather. See how many of these you can incorporate into your menus this month. Need help getting started? Check out our Fall Harvest of the Season Cycle Menu, and try some of the scratch recipes we’re featuring this season, including this winning Spaghetti Squash with Cauliflower and Lentils.
Webinars & Trainings
Media Trainings from National Farm to School Network
Social Media, November 1, 11 am MT
Are you newer to social media? Or perhaps you've been running social media for years but are looking for a few new ideas or want to stay updated on trends. Come and check out our upcoming social media training and learn about 2022/2023 trends, understanding your audience, working with influencers, and more!
Traditional Media, November 15, 11 am MT
Wondering how you can connect with traditional media like newspapers or radio? Learn how you can connect with journalists and pitch stories. Through this interactive training, you will gain new ideas and have a chance to start developing your own actionable media plan.
Uprooting Racism in the Food System: Virtual Workshops by Soul Fire Farms
November 16, 10 am-1 pm MT. Registration fee ($75-$150)
The Uprooting Racism training is a theory and action workshop for environmental and food justice leaders to uproot systemic racism in our organizations and society. We delve deep into the history and structural realities of racial injustice and develop an understanding of the movement strategies of frontlines communities struggling for food sovereignty. We will examine our personal and societal roles of complicity in and resistance to the system. Much of the time will be spent developing tangible action plans – to use our sphere of influence to uproot these oppressions. True to Soul Fire Farm’s values and culture, this work will be rooted in fierce love, courageous self-reflection, and healing connection to land. Learn more about the training here and register here!
Improving Equity
Exploring the Meaning of Thanksgiving as a Native American
November is a food-focused month for many of us. While you look forward to your Thanksgiving meal with friends and family, we urge you to push back against false narratives around the holiday. Sean Sherman, also known as The Sioux Chef, beautifully writes “No matter where you are in North America, you are on indigenous land. And so on this holiday, and any day really, I urge people to explore a deeper connection to what are called “American” foods by understanding true Native-American histories, and begin using what grows naturally around us, and to support Native-American growers. There is no need to make Thanksgiving about a false past. It is so much better when it celebrates the beauty of the present." Read his full article about celebrating Thanksgiving as a Native American here.
Job Opportunities Head Gardener, Sweetwater Kitchen/Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch, Boulder
We are a farm to table restaurant in a beautiful and remote area. Our main business is the guest lodge and restaurant. We have a 1.5-acre organic restaurant that needs to be managed and produce enough to supply our restaurant. Vegetables, herbs and flowers are the focus. We also have a few well-producing fruit trees that may need some care. 40-hour work week is required, sometimes more or less dependent on weather and needs at that time. Working alongside the head chef and restaurant staff is key to having an efficient garden with no waste. Learn more and apply here.
Student Nutrition Access Center Coordinator, Utah State University, Logan
The SNAC Student Food Pantry Coordinator will oversee the day-to-day operations of the pantry, including oversight of student employees, program logistics, marketing, budgeting, data collection, and reporting. This is a non-benefited position (29 hours/week) that pays $20/hour. Learn more and apply here.
Funding Opportunities
Youth Garden Grant
Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant from KidsGardening has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities. In early 2023, fifty organizations will be awarded $500 in funding and a collection of gardening supplies for their youth garden program. Learn more and apply here. The application deadline is December 2, 2022.
USDA Farm to School Grants
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Farm to School Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA) is now open!
USDA will award up to $12 million in competitive grants to eligible entities through the Farm to School Grant Program in FY 2023. Each grant helps implement farm to school programs that increase access to local food in eligible schools, connect children with agriculture for better health, and inspire youth to consider careers in agriculture. Learn more here and then apply on grants.gov. The application deadline is January 6, 2023.
Be sure to share your upcoming events, grant opportunities, and jobs with us so that we can share them here!
Here are some of our favorite pictures from Apple Crunch Day:
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