Hello Farm to Fork Friends! Seasons change and so do we! We are excited to announce the growth of our team by hiring a Farm to School Marketing Specialist under the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to help expand our network of farmers, assist with social media and more! Stay tuned to our blog for an upcoming press release.
What to Harvest This Month
Grab your favorite reusable bag as peaches will continue to fill booths at your local farmers market through September. Savor summer by canning your favorite peach variety or creating this simple Harvest of the Season recipe for Peaches and Cream Overnight Oats. Let us know what you think-- tag us on social media @utfarm2fork on Instagram and @utahfarmtofork on Facebook. If you live in the Salt Lake area, follow @blackbearpeaches on Instagram to find peaches near you!
Get Involved!
Peer Learning Groups - Coming soon! Interested in sharing your unique skillsets and interests to contribute to the success and long-term goals of Utah Farm to Fork? We will soon be accepting applications for our first round of monthly Peer Learning Sessions from the following three categories: 1) Local Health Departments 2) Indoor Growing (e.g. hydroponics, aquaponics) 3) Institutional Food Buyers. Stay tuned! More details to come. 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 & Trainings
Save the Date! National Farm to School Network's 2023 Movement Meeting is officially scheduled for October 26, 3:00 PM Eastern (1:00 PM Mountain). This is a FREE event taking place virtually on Zoom. Movement Meetings are a space for farm to school and farm to early care and education advocates to gather to celebrate, connect, inspire, and grow together. Stay tuned for registration. Food Hub Feasibility Study Webinar Series This series will be of interest to all who are in any way connected to our food supply – farmers, farmers markets, supermarkets, food banks, etc. The Food Hub Feasibility Study webinar series explores the findings of a study conducted by Saratoga CCE, which was funded by the USDA’s 2021 Local Food Promotion Program grant. Through research, analysis, and on-the-ground work, this study details available and potential markets for local foods. They offer recommendations to best service the local food system that considers distribution, infrastructure, farm-to-institution, food access, the emergency food system, and climate change. Proof of Concept Food Hub and Farm To School - September 6, 12pm EST Food Access - September 13, 12pm EST Distribution, Markets, and Emissions - September 20, 12pm EST Infrastructure Expansion - September 27, 12pm EST Sign up and attend as many or as few as you like. Each webinar is designed to stand alone, but the full interdisciplinary picture of the food system is best seen through the full series. Links will be emailed to registered participants. Learn more and register here.
Food Justice
Food Justice Coalition is seeking volunteers! Contribute time, enrich lives, create impact and fosters togetherness in our community. Opportunities include assisting with food preparation for Salt Lake’s unsheltered community and assisting with farming projects. Sign up today!
Job Opportunities
Edith Bowen School Food Service Worker - Utah State University, Logan, UT Assist Edith Bowen Laboratory School Child Nutrition Director with preparation, serving and cleaning up of school lunch for K-6 elementary students every school day for the school year. Dependability and reliability are a must. Click here to apply. Childcare Cook - La Petite Academy, Lehi, UT The Child Care Cook, Food Specialist, is responsible for overall food preparation for the school’s enrolled children. This role should be able to adapt to menu changes and meet meal and snack schedules. Click here to apply. 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
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. Application closes October 10, 2023 No Kid Hungry Grants - Rolling Applications Running a successful meals program requires more than food. School cafeterias and community centers need equipment like refrigerators and coolers. If you are looking to purchase equipment for your cafeteria, submit a Grant Inquiry today.
Be sure to share your upcoming events, grant opportunities, and jobs with us so that we can share them here!
P.S. Did you know you can download cafeteria signs like these from our website? Visit www.utfarmtofork.org/marketing to check them out.