September 2024
Hello Farm to Fork Friends!
We hope everyone's school year is off to a fantastic start! We're busy behind the scenes working on some exciting updates to our website before the big Apple Crunch event. It's not too late to start planning—be sure to check out our Apple Crunch Guide for inspiration, and stay tuned for more upcoming events.
This year, Apple Crunch Day will take place a week earlier on October 23rd, but if that day doesn't work for you, just choose another day in October to celebrate!
What to Harvest This Month
Even as the temperatures start to drop, gardening season is far from over! With the weather becoming more unpredictable, especially at night, make sure to protect your gardens with frost cloth or bring your potted plants indoors. One of the best things about early fall is the variety of crops you can harvest, from late-season tomatoes to hearty root vegetables. Need inspiration for all those fresh veggies? Check out these kid-friendly Fall Recipes from FoodCorps!
Get Involved!
Starting this school year, schools have expanded options to:
Serve protein-rich breakfast foods like yogurt, tofu, eggs, nuts, and seeds, supporting less sugary options and accommodating vegetarian diets and other preferences.
Purchase local foods by requiring that unprocessed agricultural products be locally grown, raised, or caught for school meal programs. More details are available on the Procuring Local Foods webpage.
For information about how these updates will be implemented, see this video:
Resources and Trainings
Utah Farm to Fork Agriculture Institute | Utah Ag in the Classroom | October 4-5 | Register here!
Join us at Jordan Academy for Technology & Careers (JATC) South Campus on October 4-5 and network with teachers, join us for industry tours, and expand your knowledge during our professional development workshop. The best part... it's a FREE event and all participants will receive a teacher stipend!
Get Schools Cooking | Application due September 31! | Learn more here!
A program of Chef Ann Foundation, Get Schools Cooking (GSC) is an intensive 3-year assessment and strategic planning program that provides school districts with comprehensive support to transition from a heat and serve to scratch cook operational model. GSC is open to school districts across the country thanks to generous support from the program’s partners, including Whole Kids Foundation, the Rachael Ray Foundation, and an Anonymous Funder.
The application is open until September 31, 2024.
Your Role as a Stakeholder in School Wellness | September 10th, 2:00-3:30 PM | Register here!
Whether you’re a student, a parent, a school district employee, on a foodservice and nutrition team, a community partner, or an elected official there’s a place for your voice in the school wellness process. Explore how your role within the school district, in the community or as a partner can help create a customized wellness policy that will benefit people and the planet. Join school wellness policy experts to determine your next steps as an internal or external stakeholder to establish, participate, and implement policies. Join Green Umbrella to discuss the basics of a Local School Wellness Policy, the new and exciting Toolkit that will be launching (including virtual training sessions on how to use the tools), and how to build an effective, inclusive, and collaborative committee. Register for the webinar here!
Food Justice
Support access to local food with Wasatch Community Gardens annual Tomato Sandwich Party! Their ever-popular annual Tomato Sandwich Party takes place Saturday, September 7! Celebrate harvest season and community with a fresh tomato sandwich. This free event is our way of thanking the community for support and celebrating their 35th anniversary! Learn more here!
Job Opportunities
Nutrition Service Worker - Elementary | Alpine School District | Apply here!
The job of Nutrition Services Worker is done for the purpose/s of providing support to the food service activities at assigned location with specific responsibilities for preparing and serving food items to students and/or school personnel; and maintaining food service facilities in a safe and sanitary condition.
County 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences Program Assistant | Utah State University | Junction, UT | Apply here!
The County 4-H and Family and Consumer Sciences Program Assistant II is a non-exempt position at 0.75 FTE (30 hours per week) that supports the Utah State University Extension in Piute County. The role involves planning and coordinating the day-to-day fiscal, administrative, and operational activities of the youth programs, as well as collaborating with community partners to improve healthy food access and physical activity opportunities.
Nutrition Education Assistance | Utah State University | Apply here!
Utah State University Extension's Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is seeking two qualified individuals to work part-time (20 hours per week) teaching nutrition and cooking skills to limited income families and youth. Training and teaching materials will be provided.
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
Stay up to date on USDA Farm to School Grant! Sign up for the Dirt, the e-letter from the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program, here. Are you interested in applying? Let us know!
$500 Classroom Award | Utah Agriculture in the Classroom | Due October 14 | Apply here!
Utah Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) is awarding ten $500 awards to Utah pre-kindergarten through 12th grade core education teachers (currently teaching) whose innovative classroom projects use agricultural concepts to teach reading, writing, math, healthy lifestyles, science, or social studies. The deadline for award applications is October 14, 2024, at midnight.
The Lorri Otto Seeds for Education Program (SFE) | Due November 15 | Apply here!
For more than 25 years, this vital Wild Ones donor-funded program has provided grants ranging from $100 to $500 for native plant gardens and landscaping projects throughout the United States. The funds are designated for acquiring native plants and seeds for outdoor learning areas that engage youth (preschool to high school) directly in planning, planting and caring for native plant gardens.
Fruit Trees for Your Community Grant | No deadline | Apply here!
The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF) is an award-winning international nonprofit charity dedicated to planting fruitful trees and plants to alleviate world hunger, combat global warming, strengthen communities, and improve the surrounding air, soil, and water. FTPF programs strategically donate orchards where the harvest will best serve communities for generations, at places such as community gardens, public schools, city/state parks, low-income neighborhoods, Native American reservations, international hunger relief sites, and animal sanctuaries.
You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!
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