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January 2025 Happy New Year and welcome to our fresh newsletter!   We had an incredible year traveling across Utah, connecting with so many inspiring farm to school advocates. As we kick off 2025, we're excited to bring you even more ways to get involved and make a difference in your community. With a new newsletter format and even more resources, there's so much to look forward to this year—keep scrolling to learn how you can join the movement! Become an Ambassador! Champion farm-to-school initiatives in your region!​​​   Ongoing | Learn more here!   Becoming a Utah Farm to Fork Regional Ambassador is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in your community by promoting farm to school initiatives. This role is vital to connecting local farmers, schools, and communities, ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food while fostering agricultural education. Peer Learning Groups   Ongoing | Learn more here!   The Utah Farm to Fork team is recruiting participants for Peer Learning Groups designed to foster connections, share updates, provide feedback, and enhance learning to advance farm-to-school initiatives in Utah. These groups create a collaborative network for exchanging insights, discussing challenges, and staying informed about developments in the movement. Meeting twice a year, they offer a structured yet flexible space to share experiences, suggest resources, and explore new opportunities for involvement and growth. Groups include...   Local Health Departments - Environment and Health Teams Early Childcare Education (TOP Star) Farmers and Producers Tribal Organizations Chefs Food Distributors Families and Students School Gardens Higher Learning Institutions School Nutrition Teams Health Care Professionals Food Educators   Register today! Network Spotlight From Farm to Fork: Teaching Gratitude and Food Awareness At Wasatch High School, teachers are giving students a hands-on lesson in food education through their annual "farm to fork" project. Students learn how to process turkeys—raised locally—gaining a deeper respect for where their food comes from. The teachers hope the experience instills gratitude and sparks thoughtful conversations about agriculture and sustainability . Read more about this project from KSL! Resource Spotlight USDA DoD FRESH PROGRAM: A Source for Locally Grown Produce The USDA Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (USDA DoD Fresh) is a program available to schools to help increase access to fresh produce for schoolchildren. More than 42,000 schools place orders for weekly deliveries of American-grown fresh fruits and vegetables through USDA DoD Fresh to serve as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). Schools interested in participating in USDA DoD Fresh should contact their State Distributing Agency . Learn more here! Get Involved Around the World: Cultural Food Resources   12:00 PM on January 30 | Register here   Explore ways to bring diverse flavors to your CACFP menus. A variety of resources are available to help you incorporate culturally relevant foods into your meal planning, allowing you to create menus that reflect and celebrate the communities you serve. Join us as we discuss the value of offering culturally inclusive meals and learn practical strategies for adapting menus to accommodate diverse tastes and traditions. School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute Apply by January 22 | Apply here   Every year, the School Garden Support Organization Leadership Institute provides an opportunity for school garden professionals from across the country to collaborate, learn from one another, and develop resources to share with a national audience. In this way, we all become able to better support school gardens in our regions, and also advance the national school garden movement. Food Justice Bill Introduced to Support Religious Dietary Needs in School Meal Programs   Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) has introduced H.R. 9980, a bill to support students with religious dietary needs. It would create an Office of Kosher and Halal Foods within the USDA to advise on accommodating these needs in school meal programs. The bill also proposes increasing kosher and halal food options, along with training and resources for schools. It is currently under review by the Committees on Agriculture and Education and the Workforce. Learn more here! Job Opportunities Evaluation Assistant with National Farm to School Network   Remote | Apply by January 3 | Apply here   National Farm to School Network seeks a part-time Evaluation Assistant to support the implementation and evaluation of organizational activities. As a member of the Programs, Policy, and Partnership team, the Evaluation Assistant will assist in organization-wide monitoring and tracking of activities, data collection and storytelling as well as convening of a new Community Advisors engagement model. This temporary position starts in January 2025 and runs through December 2025 at 15 hours per week. This role is a remote position and may be located in any location in the United States. The Evaluation Assistant will report directly to the Programs Director and work closely with NFSN staff and partners. WIC Dietician with Utah Health and Human Services Salt Lake City, UT | Apply by January 8 | Apply here   Are you a Registered Dietitian with the expertise and passion to support high-risk clients? Are you looking for a fulfilling career dedicated to providing quality care to communities across Utah? The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program is seeking a WIC Dietitian to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need. This part-time position offers 32 hours per week with benefits and provides a flexible work environment. While the role is currently hybrid, with a combination of in-office and remote workdays, it may be eligible for fully remote status. Funding Opportunities GroMoreGood Garden Grant   Apply by January 10 | Apply here   National Head Start Association is awarding grants to supplement needs of existing garden projects, help launch new garden projects, or supplement/launch outdoor green space projects that provide a space for children and the community to learn.   Child Nutrition Conference Scholarships   Apply by January 10 | Apply here   Did You Know? 72% of schools in Utah participate in local food purchasing! Join Our Network! Learn more about new sources and connect with other farm to school advocates!

December 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! Can you believe it’s already December? 2024 has been an incredible year for farm-to-school in Utah! We welcomed new team members and saw our network of advocates grow stronger every day. Exciting news: the USDA reported that 74.1% of schools nationwide participated in farm-to-school activities during SY 2022-23, reaching over 45.6 million students with local food ! Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we’ll dive into what these numbers look like in Utah. A huge thank you to everyone who participated in Harvest Gratitude Day this year!   The one hour, virtual event included introductions from Kimberly Loveland, Director of Child Nutrition Programs at Utah State Board of Education, as well as three live virtual farm tours. This year, 29 schools and organizations enrolled, totaling 1,226 participants in 9 different counties.  Thanks to our amazing presenters! Kimberly Loveland, Director of Child Nutrition Programs, USBE Chalise Smith, Hee Haw Farms at Oliver’s Place  (Pleasant Grove, UT) Sarajane Snowden, Snowden Meats (Yampa, CO) Savannah Centner, Charlie’s Produce  (Salt Lake City, UT) We were featured on a podcast!  Huge thanks to Hunger Solutions for inviting us to discuss how farm-to-school initiatives help strengthen our local food system.   In this episode of Hunger Solutions in Utah, we dive into the Farm to Fork initiative, an innovative program designed to strengthen local food systems and bring Utah-grown foods to schools and communities across the state. Join host Brittney Johnson as she sits down with two inspiring leaders from this movement—Natalie McHale, a Farm to Fork advocate, and Dani Perez from the Utah School Board. Together, they share insights into the program’s goals, the journey of bringing fresh, local produce to Utah’s schools, and the impact of connecting students to the sources of their food. Tune in to explore how Farm to Fork is fostering healthier communities, supporting local farmers, and creating a more resilient food system for Utah! Listen here! What to Harvest This Month While the ground is frosted, your harvest may be limited, but December remains a crucial month for planning and preparing for the upcoming growing season. Focus on protecting perennial plants from the cold by adding a layer of mulch around their base. If you’re fortunate enough to have a warm greenhouse, you may still be harvesting spinach and other leafy greens!  Still looking for creative ways to utilize your Thanksgiving leftovers? Try this delicious and simple Turkey Cranberry Sandwich  from Super Healthy Kids! Get Involved! Registration is now open for 2025 Peer Learning Groups!  These groups bring together a diverse range of community members united by a passion for our three core pillars: Local Procurement, Community Gardens, and Education  The Peer Learning Groups are designed to: Foster Connections: Build a strong, collaborative network of individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing farm to school initiatives in Utah. Share Updates: Stay informed about the latest developments, successes, and challenges in the Farm to School movement across the state. Provide Feedback: Offer valuable insights and suggestions on resources and support needed in your specific area of work. Enhance Learning: Gain knowledge and inspiration from fellow participants to effectively contribute to the farm to school movement.   Groups Include: Local Health Departments (Environmental Health) Early Childcare Education (TOP Star) Farmers and Producers Tribal Organizations Chefs Food Distributors Families and Students School Gardens (indoor and outdoor) Higher Learning Institutions School Nutrition Teams Health Care Professionals Food Educators   Learn more and register today!   Help support youth nutrition by participating in these two surveys! Are you currently involved in a farm-to-school program?  The National Farm to School Network and Colorado State University are studying farm-to-school coordination nationwide. Your participation in this survey will help shape support for farm-to-school programs and develop advocacy tools for coordinators and advocates across the country. Complete the survey here! The Institute of Child Nutrition Applied Research Division (ARD) invites you to take a 15-minute anonymous survey on food trends in K-12 schools. Your input will help improve child nutrition programs by shaping resources, education, and training . Complete the survey here! Resources and Trainings Nourish Smart: Food Waste Reduction Program | January 8 | Kaysville, UT | Apply here! Attention secondary teachers! Utah State University’s Hunger Solutions Institute and Utah Agriculture in the Classroom are offering a Food Waste Reduction Professional Development workshop for grades 6-12 educators. This workshop integrates food waste topics into Utah’s core curriculum, covering the origins of food, the environmental impact of food waste, and solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. Participants will also learn how to conduct lunchroom food audits and reduce food waste at school and home.   This workshop is free to attend, will include dinner, and each attendee will receive a classroom resource kit (worth up to $100), a $100 stipend, as well as USBE relicensure hours. Food Justice USDA Eliminates School Meal Processing Fees for Low-Income Families Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, families eligible for free or reduced-price meals will no longer face extra fees when adding funds to their child’s meal account.  According to the USDA, this is just the first step in eliminating school meal processing fees. The department is working toward ensuring that families of all income levels can add funds to their child’s meal account without paying extra fees. Learn more here! Job Opportunities Full-Season Elementary Programs Instructor Position | Youth Garden Project | Moab, UT | Apply here! We are looking for individuals interested in working as an educator in a hands-on, outdoor setting within a variety of our elementary educational programs and occasional middle and high school programs. In the spring & fall, we host up to three after-school programs, lead Garden Classroom field trips, and run a Spring Break and Fall Break camp—all of which will be facilitated primarily by two instructors. During the summer, four instructors collaborate to implement our nine-week Summer Camp program. YGP Summer Camp provides much needed hands-on, high-quality child care for 1st – 6th graders during the summer break.   Extension Faculty in the Home and Community Department | Utah State University | Cedar City, UT | Apply here!   Utah State University Extension is hiring a County Extension Faculty member in Iron County for a 12-month tenure-track or non-tenure-track role in the Home and Community Department. The position involves developing and delivering research-based educational programs, recruiting and supervising volunteers, and serving as a liaison between local communities and the university. Areas of expertise may include family and consumer sciences, health and wellness, mental health, food safety, nutrition, finance, community and economic development, and related fields.   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 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program requests are now open!  Apply here! The USDA awards grants annually to help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Check out this fact sheet for an overview of the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program and highlights Farm to School grantee projects.   This year the RFA has been split into three separate solicitations:  Implementation Grant State Agency Grant Turnkey Grant We would love to see more organizations and schools in Utah apply! Interested for this fiscal year or the future? Let us know!   Youth Garden Grant | KidsGardening | Due December 13 | Apply here! Since 1982, the Youth Garden Grant has supported school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for youth and their communities. In early 2025, 50 organizations will be awarded $500 in funding for their youth garden program. You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

November 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! We’re thrilled to share that we wrapped up another successful Apple Crunch! Thank you to everyone who took part in celebrating local food and supporting Utah’s farmers. As we savor this year's success, we’re also looking ahead to begin planning next year’s Movement Building Workshops and Peer Learning Groups, where we’ll continue growing connections across our farm-to-school network.   But the season isn’t over yet!  Up next, we’re gearing up for Harvest Gratitude Day, a time to celebrate the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in bringing fresh, local food to Utah’s students. See below for more details on how you can join in! Utah Farm to Fork celebrated another successful Apple Crunch statewide! 41 events brought together 117,839 Utahns to enjoy locally grown apples. $102,396 went directly to Utah apple producers—a $58,299 increase from last year! Apple Crunch participation grew by 61%, moving us closer to our goal of 200,000 annual participants. Looking forward to next year’s Apple Crunch to grow these numbers even more!   Take a look at Fox 13’s feature on our event at the Capitol! Every November, we celebrate Harvest Gratitude Day— a virtual event designed for middle and high school students  to connect with the farmers, ranchers, and producers who bring fresh, local food to their communities!   This year, the event will take place on November 21 between 9:00 - 10:00 AM.   Register today! Can’t attend live?  Please still register to receive a video recording that you can share with your students later! What to Harvest This Month Snow is starting to blanket the state, but local flavors are still within reach! Check with your local farmer, and if squash is still available, give our Curried Turkey and Squash  recipe a try. It’s also a delicious way to celebrate turkey, the star of Thanksgiving, with a flavorful twist! Get Involved! Stay up to date on School Lunch legislation in Utah!   This summer, USBE Board Members proposed a legislative request for 2025 to eliminate the reduced-price meal charge for K-12 students eligible for reduced-price meals in public schools participating in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. The funding would cover the $0.30 breakfast and $0.40 lunch charges, aiming to reduce food insecurity, improve access to school-day nutrition, lower meal debt, and increase meal participation. Learn more here! Resources and Trainings Slow Food Live: Your Role as a Stakeholder in School Wellness | November 19 at 1:30 PM | Register here! A Local School Wellness Policy, required by the USDA for districts in the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, helps shape food, health, and environmental standards across communities. By joining a Wellness Policy Committee, stakeholders—from students to elected officials—can contribute to equitable, impactful wellness policies that enhance academic outcomes and resource distribution. Explore how your unique role can drive a healthier, more sustainable school environment.   Fundamentals of Farm to School & Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) - Now accepting applications! The National Farm to School Network is introducing a new training to support onboarding for new employees in state agencies and organizations statewide. This training also serves as a refresher for those already familiar with farm-to-school practices, helping to deepen and expand knowledge in this important area. Apply here! Food Justice The new USDA Farm to School Census report is live! Farm to school activities – such as serving local foods in school, growing a school garden, tasting new foods and visiting local farms – provide experiential learning for children, support American farmers and producers, boost nutrition in school meals and more. The new USDA Farm to School Census  reports that 74% of schools served local foods during the school year 2022-23.   Other key findings include: School districts that purchased local food spent about $1.8 billion on local foods, roughly 16% of their total food spending. Participation in farm to school activities has grown by 14% since the 2019 Farm to School Census. School districts with a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price meals are as likely to participate in farm to school as lower-need school districts.   Learn more about the Farm to School Census and USDA’s record-breaking $14.3 million in Farm to School Grants awarded in 2024 by visiting the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program website . Stay tuned for next month's newsletter to see how Utah compares! Job Opportunities Operations and Engagement Coordinator |Summit Community Gardens | Park City, UT | Apply here!   Summit Community Gardens - EATS is seeking an Operations and Engagement Coordinator to be the nexus of communication, logistics, outreach, administrative support, and systems management. The ideal candidate will be a thought partner for the Executive Director and serve as a source of support for the entire team. As someone who’s fluent in platforms like Squarespace, Canva, Mailchimp, SignUpGenius, Donorbox, and Google Suite, they will establish processes, improve systems, and build efficiency. Managing projects, volunteers,  and events round out this role. The ideal candidate is highly organized within a flurry of activity, maintaining humor while ensuring the day-to-day details are on track  and the big picture of why we do this work is always in the foreground.   Regional Business Consultants | Utah Farm and Food Business Program | statewide | Apply here! The Utah Farm and Food Business Program seeks three Regional Business Consultants to provide business consulting and technical assistance to small to medium-sized food businesses and agricultural producers in Northern, Eastern, and Southwestern Utah. Working directly with clients or coordinating with service providers, these consultants will support business growth, market expansion, and grant access as part of the Southwest Regional Food Business Center. This grant-funded role extends through June 2028, contingent on performance and funding renewal.   Youth Garden Project | Youth Garden Project | Moab, UT | Apply here! As the Youth Garden Project’s Community Garden Development VISTA, you’ll be making a transformative impact on households with limited access to fresh, affordable food. You’ll champion the “Moab Community Gardens” program, empowering low to moderate-income community members with irrigated plots to grow their own produce. You’ll be a key player in securing new revenue streams, engaging volunteers, and enhancing our program’s administrative systems. Be a part of a mission-driven team that nurtures both the land and its people!   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 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program requests are now open!  Apply here! The USDA awards grants annually to help connect students to the sources of their food through education, taste tests, school gardens, field trips, and local food sourcing for school meals. Check out this fact sheet for an overview of the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program and highlights Farm to School grantee projects.   This year the RFA has been split into three separate solicitations:  Implementation Grant State Agency Grant Turnkey Grant We would love to see more organizations and schools in Utah apply! Interested for this fiscal year or the future? Let us know!   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!

October 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! Get ready, because there’s a lot happening in Farm to School in October! First up, October is National Farm to School Month ! Join us, along with thousands of schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities, and organizations nationwide as we celebrate food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with fresh, local ingredients. Registration for Apple Crunch   is now open! Sign up your organization today and help us reach our goal of engaging 200,000 community members. What does that mean? It means over 200,000 people will be biting into or learning about locally grown produce while supporting Utah’s farmers. Are you passionate about connecting youth with local food? Then join our new   Utah Farm to Fork Online Community!   Sign up today for all the latest Apple Crunch updates, explore the platform, and receive notifications as new resources are added. Utah Farm to Fork is a growing network aimed at increasing engagement between farm-to-school advocates. Whether you’re cafeteria staff, a parent, producer, teacher, or simply someone who cares about connecting youth with local food, this community is for you! This is a soft launch, and more resources will be added regularly—so let us know what you think or what else you'd like to see! Recipients of the Healthy Meals Incentive Award  We are thrilled to announce that the Sevier School District has been recognized for their outstanding work in promoting healthy meals for their students. They have received the Small and/or Rural Lunch Trailblazer award from the Healthy Meals Incentive  initiative, a joint project of USDA FNS and Action for Healthy Kids . This award honors their efforts in reducing sodium in their lunch menus and recipes to support student well-being.  Sevier is the first school in Utah to receive this award, and we celebrate them for their leadership and innovation. Please join us in congratulating the Sevier School District on this remarkable achievement! What to Harvest This Month Apples are ready for harvest this month—find your local U-pick farm here and enjoy the freshest picks straight from the orchard! The Utah’s Own  website is a great place to start! What better way to celebrate Apple Crunch Month than by sinking your teeth into a locally grown apple? Try this tasty Apple Breakfast Crisp  recipe in your cafeteria or home kitchen! It's simple, delicious, and a healthy treat for all ages. Get Involved! Agritourism promotion opportunity!  The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food looks forward to launching the Utah Agritourism Program. This free program promotes, supports, and provides resources to agritourism operations across the state. Upon joining, your farm will be added to the Utah Agritourism online registry, where people can find the location, hours of operation, activities offered, and more information about your farm. If you wish to have your farm listed on the registry before the official launch, please send the following information to adriannafranco@utah.gov : Farm name Picture of farm logo Season open and close dates Address Farm description/background (1-3 paragraphs)  Owner name, title, and bio (1-2 paragraphs) Owner(s) headshot photo Social Media links/website link Agritourism activities offered (fall festival, pumpkin patch, u-pick, field trips, baby animal days, etc.) Any additional photos of your operation Stay tuned for the official program launch! The program's official website will be accessible at agritourism.utah.gov on September 16th. In the meantime, stay updated on all things Utah Agritourism by following @utahagritourism on Instagram and Facebook. Resources and Trainings Did you know? Each Local Education Agency (LEA) with an agreement to operate the National School Lunch Program is required to have a Local Wellness Policy. If you have new LEA administration, school principals or other key staff playing a role in implementing, updating, or assessing the Local Wellness Policy, here are some great resources to share.  USDA FNS Local Wellness Policy resources:  Local School Wellness Policy, USDA FNS,   Local  School Wellness Policy | Food and Nutrition Service ( usda.gov )    SP24-2017, Local School Wellness Policy Guidance and Q&As,  SP  24-2017 ( azureedge.us )   Check out Utah Agriculture in the Classroom’s new educational flowchart! These flowcharts take students through the various stages of food production, from livestock to grains. Visit their online Curriculum Matrix  and search “flowchart” to view them all!  Farm-to-School Partnerships: Expanding Market Opportunities for Farmers and Food Producers  |  October 16  |  4:00 PM MT  | Register here! Join the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center for our second webinar focused on Farm-To-School initiatives. The webinar will feature Center partners, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Speakers will highlight how Farm to School programs can help farmers and food businesses expand their market reach and create sustainable revenue streams. The Lunch Line: The Impact and Potential of Quality School Food Jobs | October 3  |  11:00 AM MT  | Register here! Join the Center for Good Food Purchasing and our panel of experts to explore the impact and potential of good food and quality jobs related to food service in schools across the United States. This webinar will feature conversation geared toward those with interest in food systems, school meal programs, education, valued workforces, local economic development, and food policy.  Food Justice Wasatch Community Gardens does a lot within the food justice realm, such as farm-based job trainings and managing dozens of community gardens, particularly in food deserts throughout the community. Check out these amazing opportunities to participate and support their programs! Wasatch Garden Field Trips A number of Field Trip slots are open in October for K-6th grade programs. Their field trips are FREE to all Salt Lake County public schools and can accommodate up to 35 students (25 for kindergarten) per time slot. Bus reimbursements are available to a limited number of SLCSD Title 1 schools upon request, and are awarded first-come, first-serve based on time of request.  Group Visits For those who are interested in a WCG Campus garden experience but fall outside of field trips, please sign up for a Group Visit! They encourage youth groups of all kinds to explore the Wasatch Community Gardens' Campus through a guided tour and hands-on activities led by knowledgeable youth educators. The workshops are each two hours long and include a garden tour, a healthy snack, and a seasonal, garden-based activity. Group Visits typically cost a fee of $100 for up to 12 students, and $3 per student over the 12 cap. If you need any fee reduction, please contact their team for information.  Job Opportunities Wasatch Community Gardens is hiring an Executive Director!  This position is responsible for providing ultimate leadership, strategic direction, and long-term financial viability of the organization and overseeing all activities of the organization. This position will steward the organization through the Principles and Pillars of growth, determined by the 2023-27 Strategic Plan, which provides the framework for our three departments’ role: Programs, External Relations, and Agricultural Operations. Learn more here!   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!

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!

August 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! Summer is flying by! The Squash Summer Hunger festivities continued this month with a delightful celebration at Majestic Elementary’s summer meal site. Students and their families enjoyed taste-testing both raw and cooked squash, along with zucchini muffins made from our Harvest of the Season recipes! Check out this fantastic feature from Fox 13 to see the event in action! What to Harvest This Month The peach harvest is just starting in Utah! Be sure to visit your local farmers market over the next couple of months to add this nutritious fruit to both your sweet and savory summer recipes. Need some inspiration? Try our Peach and Ham Flatbread  or delicious Peach Sheet Pancake  recipe, both easy to make for a large summer gathering! Get Involved! The Farm to School movement is growing strong in Utah!   The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant  program awarded a record $14.3 million to support 154 grants, benefiting an estimated 1.9 million students. Even better, a portion of that funding is coming to Utah! The Youth Garden Project  will use the funds to provide field trips for Grand County School District students and grow food for school lunches. Congratulations on your successful application!    Are you interested in applying for a Farm to School Grant? Let us know, we are here to help! Resources and Trainings To continue the exciting Utah news, the inaugural Teaching Kitchen Symposium is coming to Salt Lake City, November 13-14! Hosted by TKC Organization Member, the University of utah, the Teaching Kitchen Symposium is a two-day continuing education event for individuals passionate about advancing hands-on nutrition education and behavior change in teaching kitchen settings.   Whether you're a healthcare professional, educator, chef, or community advocate, there’s something for everyone! As an attendee, you can expect expert-led sessions, hands-on culinary experiences, and invaluable networking opportunities.   Explore the details and register today!   Life Lab Certified Garden Educator Series Registration is now open to the Life Lab-Certified Garden Educator Course. Building on Life Lab’s 40+ years of experience in the school garden movement, they’ve put together a virtual course that will guide and support educators in becoming a Life Lab-Certified School Garden Educator! Click here  for more information and to register!   Get Schools Cooking 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 opens August 1, 2024.   Learn more at thelunchbox.org/gsc .   New resource highlight! The USDA has released a training guide for school nutrition professionals on how to identify sources of added sugars and ways to reduce added sugars in school breakfast meals, to meet the added sugars limits included in the Final Rule titled, Child Nutrition Programs Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Download the resource here! Food Justice Did you know that you can use your SNAP EBT benefits to buy LOCAL food at farmers markets and farm stands across the state of Utah? Learn how it works and find a location near you with these great resources from Utahns Against Hunger .    ZAP Passport Night in the Garden   As part of the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP) Kids Summer Passport Program, WCG will be hosting a Summer Night in the Garden. Stop by their Campus at 629 E 800 S, SLC, to learn about our educational programs for youth and adults. Explore the garden at sunset and participate in family-friendly activities to connect with our natural world. Free for all ages! Date/time: Wednesday, August 7th, 5 pm - 8 pm Location: Wasatch Community Gardens Campus (629 East 800 South) *Don't forget your ZAP Passport to get a stamp!* Looking for opportunities to support your local food community? USU Extension Sustainability is looking for volunteers to help the Utah Farmers Market Network  with a data collection project in collaboration with Utah State University. We are collecting information on farmers markets to drive support and funding for local food and farmers. Your work will directly impact the future of Utah’s local food scene! They need 3-4 volunteers for two simple tasks: Counting market attendees for 20 minutes at a time Encouraging visitors to participate in a quick sticker survey Interested? Fill out this form!  Questions? Email Jaclyn at jaclyn.pace@usu.edu   Second Chance Day with Wasteless Solutions | August 26 | 6:00-9:00 PM | Buy your ticket! Support reducing food waste in Utah through Wasteless Solution’s annual fundraiser! Throw on your favorite thrifted outfit and enjoy amazing rescued food from six chefs. They’ll also have a DJ to pump up the music while you dance the night away and there will be a silent auction with sustainable items like outdoor adventures and food items for you to bid on. Get your groove on and join us! Job Opportunities Green Urban Lunchbox is seeking a full-time Executive Director! Find the full position description and application instructions here . The Green Urban Lunch Box (GULB) is a Salt Lake City-based food justice non-profit organization whose mission is “to empower people to connect to food and their community by revitalizing urban spaces and building a resilient food culture.” At their center is a 35-foot school bus converted into a mobile greenhouse, designed to showcase the possibilities in urban agriculture. In addition to their mobile greenhouse, all GULB programs aim to provide education and motivation to the community regarding food production and the importance of access to fresh, healthy foods.   Wasatch Community Gardens is seeking a full-time Marketing and Communication Director! Find the full position description and application instructions here . WCG seeks a creative, results-oriented Marketing and Communication Director to build awareness and support for WCG’s six programs, ongoing fundraising efforts, community events, 20+ locations, and overall impact across Salt Lake County. The individual in this role manages all of WCG’s communications, marketing and public relations functions. Reporting to the Director of External Relations, this individual works closely with all program and department directors to understand and prioritize communication about WCG’s mission-driven initiatives. The Marketing and Communication Director will supervise WCG’s Marketing Manager (Media and Design) to provide leadership, strategic vision and direction to WCG’s graphic design and social media efforts.   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 Are you interested in funding opportunities for your school garden or farm to cafeteria programs? Take a look at this list of funding opportunities from Utah Agriculture in the Classroom!  You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

July 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! School might be out of session, but we are more engaged than ever in connecting youth with local food! Squash Summer Hunger is active in June to help inform families about summer meal sites, but the effort doesn’t end there! As the squash continues to ripen in abundance, many schools will still be serving local squash to their students. Is your school one of them? Let us know!   A huge thanks to Utah Agriculture in the Classroom  for hosting us, along with agriculture educators from across the country, for the 2024 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City. Their team did an amazing job showcasing local agriculture and food products in Utah, and our team had a wonderful time presenting on connecting the classroom to the cafeteria. Let's give a big round of applause to the fantastic school culinary teams who joined us for our 2024 Scratch Cooking Workshops!   We've wrapped up our 2024 culinary workshops at Sevier and Tooele School Districts! Chef Cyndie's Culinary Solutions  team guided us through dozens of recipes, including gourmet grilled cheese and homemade granola with dried fruit, all featuring locally grown ingredients from Utah.   Stay tuned as we welcome them back next year in Alpine and Logan School Districts! What to Harvest This Month June brings a bountiful harvest of squash, perfect to continue celebrating Squash Summer Hunger! Try this fun and delicious Harvest of the Season recipe for Cheesy Ratatouille Pasta with your family. These tasty treats are a wonderful way to enjoy the season's abundance. Enjoy! Get Involved! Today’s the day! Starting July 1, child nutrition programs will now be able to use “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught” as a specification requirement for fresh and minimally processed food items. Under current rules, local food can be preferred in bid scoring criteria but bids cannot specify a food must be local. This change simplifies the geographic preference process for child nutrition programs, making it easier to purchase local foods.  Stay up to date as the USDA continuously updates resources to empower YOU to source locally this next school year!    Did you attend a Movement Building Workshop this year? Share your feedback to help improve next year's workshops! Complete the survey here! Resources and Trainings Producer Q&A for Utah Farm to School | TODAY - July 1st at 3:00 PM | Register here!   Join the Utah Farm to Fork team for a 1-hour Q&A session to discover how producers can benefit from Utah's Farm to School initiatives.   Local Food Purchasing Incentive Resources The National Farm to School Network has introduced a new series of resources on Local Food Purchasing Incentives (LFPIs), created in collaboration with Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems! View the resources here!   Bilingual Family Engagement  |  School Gardens Support Organization Network  |  July 31 at 12:30 PM  |  Register here!   Families are a crucial element of the school garden ecosystem, and are often overlooked when planning garden programming. Join two of the Wasatch Community Gardens Youth and School Program team to learn about successes and challenges of engaging families in school garden spaces at two sites in Salt Lake City, Utah. Discuss culturally competent “best practices” for working with families and learn ideas for starting bilingual family engagement programs at your own sites.  Presenters will include: - Kimberly Yapias, School and Family Garden Manager at Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City, UT - Emily Büchi, Youth and School Program Director at Wasatch Community Gardens in Salt Lake City, UT   Congrats to Wasatch Community Gardens for this national recognition!  Food Justice Summer Meals and Snacks for Kids Looking for summer meals for kids? Every child aged 18 and under can enjoy free, on-site summer meals, with some rural communities offering to-go options. Use this handy site finder to locate meal programs in your area!   Second Chance Day with Wasteless Solutions | August 26 | 6:00-9:00 PM | Buy your ticket! Support reducing food waste in Utah through Wasteless Solution’s annual fundraiser! Throw on your favorite thrifted outfit and enjoy amazing rescued food from six chefs. They’ll also have a DJ to pump up the music while you dance the night away and there will be a silent auction with sustainable items like outdoor adventures and food items for you to bid on. Get your groove on and join us! Job Opportunities Child Nutrition Manager | Taylorsville Elementary School | Apply here! Contribute to providing healthy meals for students by planning, implementing, and supervising the operation of an assigned school cafeteria for the preparation and service of meals and other foods.   AmeriCorps Food Pantry Support Specialist | Community Action Services | Apply here! As a key member, you'll wear multiple hats - from warehouse wizard to pantry powerhouse. Your role involves sorting and stocking, greeting patrons with a smile, and mastering the art of data entry. Bonus points if you're fluent in both English and Spanish. Make a difference with us, and let's feed joy to those in need!   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 Sprouting School Gardens Grant - LEARN MORE & APPLY Grants range in size from $5,000 to $10,000 and support school garden program operations, program supplies, and educator stipends that help school gardens thrive. Eligible applicants include schools or 501(c)(3) nonprofits running programs on school campuses in communities where Sprouts Farmers Market has stores.   Grant Deadline Extended:  The Sprouting School Gardens Grant application will close on July 15, 2024. Grants available in the 23 states with Sprout stores.   Growing Healthy Kids Grant- LEARN MORE & APPLY Grants range in size from $5,000 to $10,000 and support healthy lifestyle and nutrition education programs outside of the school day and community programs for children and their families. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating in communities where Sprouts Farmers Market has stores.   Grant Deadline Extended: Grant Timeline: The Growing Healthy Kids Grant application will close on July 15, 2024. Grants available in the 23 states with Sprout stores You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

June 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! As the summer sun begins, we are thrilled to announce that our next annual promotion, Squash Summer Hunger, will be starting in June to help families transition from school to summer meal opportunities. Let’s make this summer both nutritious and fun for everyone! Squash Summer Hunger aims to raise awareness about summer meals programs and make the most of the abundance of squash during the summer months. Each year during the last week of June, we invite Utah kids and families to visit a summer meal site and join us in celebrating the versatility of summer squash. Squash Summer Hunger is not only a fantastic way to embrace delicious local produce but also an opportunity to educate kids about the origins of their food and show support for local farmers.   Sign up today so we can assist in promoting and acknowledging your summer events! Let's give a big round of applause to the fantastic school culinary teams who joined us for our Bison Cooking Workshop in May!   Collaborating with the talented Tamara Stanger, Chef at Hells Backbone Grill in Boulder, UT, they delved into crafting kid-friendly recipes featuring bison from Ute Tribal Enterprises, infused with flavors inspired by indigenous cultures. It was a pleasure getting to know each of you, and we extend our heartfelt thanks for everything you do for Utah Students! Where can you find us this month? June 14: STEM Best Practices Conference (Layton) June 19: School Nutrition Association of Utah Conference (Provo) June 25-27: National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference (Salt Lake City)   Visit us at our exhibitor booths or attend our presentations. We’d love to connect with you! What to Harvest This Month As temperatures remain consistently warm, it's safe to move tomatoes, cucumbers, and other sun-loving plants outdoors. It's also the perfect time to harvest your cool-season veggies, with summer squash ready by the end of the month! Celebrate Squash Summer Hunger with this delicious Zucchini Boat recipe  from the Chef Ann Foundation! Get Involved! The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA) has introduced H.R.8467, the Farm Bill, set to last through 2029 if passed. Key proposed changes include:  Revising the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) publication schedule to "as necessary" based on scientific advancements, but at least every ten years. Establishing an Independent Advisory Board with 8 nutrition or food science experts to guide scientific inquiries for the DGA. Omitting non-dietary topics from the Guidelines. Mandating an evidence-based review process and ratings for guideline contributions to the Healthy Eating Index. Extending the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program through 2029. Requiring 95% of school food purchases to meet Buy American standards. Allowing schools to serve milk in any flavor and fat content.   This bill is in its early stages and will undergo several amendments before a final version is agreed upon by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Stay up to date with the School Nutrition Association Action Network.  Resources and Trainings Are you part of the culinary or nutrition teams for a school in Utah?   We still have space in our culinary workshop! Join Chef Cyndie and the Culinary Solutions team for a series of cooking workshops based on Harvest of the Season recipes, focused on bringing local ingredients to your cafeteria!   Each workshop participant will receive a chef’s hat, apron, personal kitchen supply kit, and $200 stipend.    There are two workshop opportunities:    Workshop 1: Sevier School District Tuesday, June 4  |  8:00 AM - 3:00 PM  Workshop 2: Tooele School District Friday, June 7  |  8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Register here! In late April, the Utah Farm to Fork team presented with the National Farm to School Network, showcasing Utah’s unique implementation of the USDA Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program.   Unlike most states, which allocated funds directly to schools, Utah conducted a statewide bidding process, securing competitive contracts with local meat producers and simplifying the ordering process for food service professionals. Watch the recording here! Working Smarter, Not Harder: Regional School Garden Support Models When scaling up a program, it's important to think about how you allocate resources and efforts to maximize your impact. In this webinar, Learn about the Multi Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) framework used at the Office of the State Superintendent  in Washington, DC and the Theory of Change framework used in the Wisconsin School Garden Network .    Each framework gives guidelines to differentiate support between partner sites so as to use your organization's capacity effectively. Watch the webinar here ! Partners Webinar on Expanded Geographic Preference in the Final Rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans   Thursday, June 20, from 12:00 – 1:00 PM | Register here! USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Patrick Leahy Farm to School Team (USDA Farm to School Team) will host a webinar for farm to school partners, including Child Nutrition Program operators, on the expanded geographic preference option in the final rule, Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent With the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The final rule includes a small yet significant expansion of the geographic preference provision. Beginning July 1, 2024, the provision will permit CNP operators to use local as a specification when procuring unprocessed agricultural products. The USDA Farm to School Team will provide an overview to help farm to school partners share and learn about the expanded geographic preference option. Food Justice Summer Meals and Snacks for Kids Looking for summer meals for kids? Every child aged 18 and under can enjoy free, on-site summer meals, with some rural communities offering to-go options. Use this handy site finder to locate meal programs in your area! Job Opportunities Child Nutrition Manager, West Elementary School  - Tooele School District  |  Apply here   The Child Nutrition Manager supervises food services activities at assigned site, organize food preparation activities, assists cafeteria workers with food preparation and serving, supervises and manages cafeteria staff to ensure compliance of policies and regulations, confirms quantities and quality of food items which are to be served, provide written reports, comply with mandated health requirements, ensure kitchen and lunchroom compliance with all state and federal regulations.   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 Newman’s Own - Food Justice for Kids Prize  |  Apply by June 11  |  Learn more!   Is your organization working towards food justice for kids in the United States? If so, this is your chance to receive up to $100,000 in grant funding over the next 2 years and deepen your impact! Apply by June 11, 2024, at one of the links below.    They’re seeking applications from organizations working in two priority program areas:   (1) Indigenous Food Justice ( Apply here ) and (2) Nutrition Education and School Food ( Apply here )   They welcome applications from all eligible organizations, and in particular seek to be inclusive of organizations led by and/or representing historically marginalized and under-represented groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).  Clif Family Foundation Operational Grants  |  Apply by August 1  |  Apply here! Grants are awarded annually for general operational support as well as for specific projects. Priority is given to applicants that address two or more of our funding priorities at the same time: Strengthen our food system Enhance equitable community health outcomes Safeguard our environment and natural resources Demonstrate strong community ties. Operate within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change. The Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, Sprouting School Gardens Grant  |  Apply by June 30  | Apply here! The Sprouting School Gardens Grant is designed to help schools create or expand their garden programs on school campuses with an emphasis on nutrition education. Grants range in size from $5,000 to $10,000 and may be used to support program operations, program supplies, learning tools, and educator stipends. You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

May 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! We're excited to share that our team has wrapped up our Movement Building Workshops for the year, culminating in a weekend at Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch . There, we explored regenerative farming practices, deepening our commitment to sustainability. Learn more about our partnership and its impact here ! We've also concluded our first annual Raising the Steaks promotion! Take a look at our successes below, and stay tuned for highlights from those who joined in the celebration across the state. What to Harvest This Month Once the final frost threat has passed, it's time to plant your warm-season vegetables and annual flowers. Check the average dates for the first and last frosts in your area  to ensure optimal timing. Strawberries are among the earliest perennials to bear fruit. Consider serving up a delicious batch of our unique Strawberry Bread Harvest  of the Season recipe in your cafeteria this month. Get Involved! Squash Summer Hunger  |  Registration opens June 1st! As June approaches, we're gearing up for our second Annual Promotion of the year: Squash Summer Hunger! This engaging event aims to raise awareness about summer meals programs and make the most of the abundance of squash during the summer months. Each year during the last week of June, we invite Utah kids and families to visit a summer meal site and join us in celebrating the versatility of summer squash. Squash Summer Hunger is not only a fantastic way to embrace delicious local produce but also an opportunity to educate kids about the origins of their food and show support for local farmers.  It’s not too late to start planning! Download the Toolkit  today! USDA Announces Final Updates to the School Nutrition Standards Last week, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service announced the updated nutrition standards for schools, early care and education sites, and out of school programs. The new rules contain major wins for farm to school, including a measure to simplify local purchasing. ‎ Under the new rules, child nutrition programs will now be able to use “locally grown,” “locally raised,” or “locally caught” as a specific requirement for unprocessed or minimally processed food items. Basically, this removes a lot of the complexity that child nutrition programs had to navigate in order to purchase local food. School cafeterias and child care programs can now purchase local foods more easily! ‎ Visit the USDA website  to learn more about the Final Rule and other updates to the child nutrition standards. Resources and Trainings Child Nutrition Programs Final Rule: Updates to the CACFP & SFSP Meal Patterns  |  Thursday, May 16 | 12:00 PM MT  |  Register here! Join us for a webinar with USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) as they provide an overview of the Child Nutrition Programs Final Rule: Updates to the CACFP & SFSP Meal Patterns. Can't make it to the live session? Register anyway to receive the recording and watch on demand! Supporting Trans & Gender Non-Conforming Youth in the Garden  | Wednesday, May 22  |  12:00 PM MT  | Register here! Gender expansive youth represent a growing demographic of students who utilize school gardens and outdoor classrooms. In spite of this, many programs continue to be built around traditional gender roles, from introducing classes as "Ladies and Gentlemen" to the ways that educators discuss the plants and animals in the garden. This webinar will provide research, resources, and information on ways to support Transgender and Gender Nonconforming (TGNC) youth in outdoor spaces. Starting from basic adjustments to everyday language, we will expand to challenge ourselves to create more accepting, welcoming spaces and lessons for our students. Conference Opportunities: ASPHN's 2024 Farm to Early Care and Education Convening   |  June 11-13, 2024 in Minneapolis, MN 2024 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summi t  |  July 15-23, 2024 at University of Arkansas Resources: Rural Health Network's Farm to ECE Outreach Materials - The first resource is state/national  as well as local  guides for Gardening with ECE Students. The second resource is title "What's Next? Starting your Farm to ECE Program", and there are state/national  as well as local  guides for this resource as well.
Eating Learning Growing: A Delicious Guide to Culturally Relevant Farm to School Education  - This resource embodies Center for Ecoliteracy's core principle — Nature Is Our Teacher — by sharing how diversity, including diversity in human communities, is a foundation for healthy patterns of living and a healthier planet. It provides a framework, activities, and reflections that help educators enhance farm to school lessons to make them more culturally relevant and celebrate fruits and vegetables. Food Justice Wasatch Community Gardens' Spring Plant Sale  |  8:00 AM - 1:00 PM  | Saturday, May 11  |  Learn more here! We know there are plenty of local plant sales this time of year. Why shop at WCG's sale? Their sale features more than 45,000 food-growing plants raised from seed by participants of our farm-based Job Training Program  serving women facing homelessness. These seedlings are grown with the utmost care at our certified organic Green Phoenix Farm . Job Opportunities Pilot Light Fellowship |  Apply here   |  Due May 27th Pilot Light seeks highly motivated Pre-K through 12th grade teachers across the country with an interest in connecting to their students and communities through implementing Pilot Light Food Education lessons consistently in their classrooms to apply to the Food Education Fellowship! This is a paid opportunity, detailed here . Utah Farmers Market Network Director |  Apply here   | Remote  This is a part-time position (up to 20 hours per week) through Utah State University (USU) at a rate of $29 an hour, funded through the United States Department of Agriculture Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program (USDA FMPP), ending December 2025. The position start date is May 13, 2024, with flexibility for a June start date depending on the final candidate’s schedule. The search committee includes representatives from USU Extension and Utah farmers’ market managers. Substitute Cooks | Davis School District | Apply here   | Open until filled Davis School District Nutrition Services is looking for positive, hard-working people to help us feed kids! The job consists of preparing meals, serving kids, and cleaning up afterwards.   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 Local Food Microgrant Program  |  Apply by May 8th  |  Apply here! Urban Food Connections of Utah is pleased to offer a limited number of microgrant opportunities for existing commercial farming establishments dedicated primarily to the production of fruits and vegetables using ecologically sustainable agricultural methods. The intent of the Local Food Microgrant Program is to increase the amount and diversity of sustainably grown produce available to Utahns receiving SNAP benefits by assisting local small farmers to access technology, education, tools and equipment to support more sustainable growing practices. Over 11 grant cycles, more than $200,000 has been distributed to Utah farmers. The minimum request is $500, and the maximum grant request is $5,000. Newman’s Own - Food Justice for Kids Prize  |  Apply by June 11  |  Learn more! Is your organization working towards food justice for kids in the United States? If so, this is your chance to receive up to $100,000 in grant funding over the next 2 years and deepen your impact! Apply by June 11, 2024, at one of the links below.  They’re seeking applications from organizations working in two priority program areas:  (1) Indigenous Food Justice ( Apply here ) and (2) Nutrition Education and School Food ( Apply here ) We welcome applications from all eligible organizations, and in particular seek to be inclusive of organizations led by and/or representing historically marginalized and under-represented groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Keep reading for more info and FAQS. Clif Family Foundation Operational Grants  |  Apply by August 1  |  Apply here! Grants are awarded annually for general operational support as well as for specific projects. Priority is given to applicants that address two or more of our funding priorities at the same time: Strengthen our food system Enhance equitable community health outcomes Safeguard our environment and natural resources Demonstrate strong community ties. Operate within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change. You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

April 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends!   As spring unfolds, we're excited to see youth begin connecting with fresh, local produce and immersive garden experiences. This April, we're especially excited to launch our inaugural event, "Raising the Steaks," a month-long celebration honoring Utah's dedicated meat producers, both in the classroom and cafeteria.   Register your classroom or group today to receive our Toolkit, full of engaging activities and nutritious recipes developed for the cafeteria. Raising the Steaks Raising the Steaks isn't just for steak. . . or hamburger, or chicken. It's a celebration of all the amazing meat products we raise and eat here in Utah.   Begins April 1st! Movement Building Nights   Join the movement and register for your region today!   March Workshops: Northern Utah Region - March 19 Uinta Basin Region - March 26   Have suggestions for your region? We want to hear from you! What to Harvest This Month As the weather warms up, the anticipation for gardening season builds! Unsure of what to plant this year? Explore the USU Extension's fact sheets  featuring over 55 varieties of vegetables and herbs! Get Involved! Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act (H.R. 7748) -  Introduced on March 20, this Act will establish a USDA grant program to expand the practice of scratch cooking in schools. Specifically, it would allocate $100 million over 5 years for grants to schools interested in transitioning to scratch cooking. Grants would total $200k to selected recipients over 2 years. These funds can be used to support scratch cooking through: Professional development Purchasing cafeteria equipment Providing employee compensation Providing necessary technical assistance, pupil engagement and education   Follow along as it makes its way to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Resources and Trainings Nourishing Minds: Exploring Child Nutrition Policy in School Food Systems | April 4th | 12 PM MT | Webinar Hosted by the Chef Ann Foundation, delve into the landscape of child nutrition policy in school food systems. We’ll examine the impact of current policies, related challenges, and strategies to enhance child nutrition in schools. Register today! Join the Kid’s Garden Community! This online network provides an excellent platform to remain informed about funding opportunities, resources, and upcoming events in the realm of youth gardening. Join today! Food Justice Nourishing Minds: Exploring Child Nutrition Policy in School Food Systems | April 4th | 12 PM MT | Webinar Hosted by the Chef Ann Foundation, delve into the landscape of child nutrition policy in school food systems. We’ll examine the impact of current policies, related challenges, and strategies to enhance child nutrition in schools. Register today! Join the Kid’s Garden Community! This online network provides an excellent platform to remain informed about funding opportunities, resources, and upcoming events in the realm of youth gardening. Join today! Job Opportunities Job Training Program Case Manager | Wasatch Community Gardens | Apply today! The Case Manager is responsible for supporting the Job Training Program Director in effective implementation of program and participant goals, primarily through case management, advocacy, and continuum of care while practicing trauma-informed care and maintaining a psychologically-informed work environment. 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 CACFP Savings with Gerber At Gerber, they recognize the important work of child care providers. Gerber is committed to being your partner by providing high quality, nutritious foods that meet the CACFP meal patterns. Join Gerber's child care network  and get access to discounted products, their Gerber cycle menu and a few other surprises.   Newman’s Own Food Justice for Kids Prize now open!  |  Due June 11  | Apply today! Is your organization working towards food justice for kids? If so, this is your chance to receive up to $100,000 in grant funding over the next 2 years and deepen your impact! They’re seeking applications from organizations working in two priority program areas:  (1) Indigenous Food Justice and (2) Nutrition Education and School Food   No Kid Hungry Grants | Due May 15 |  Complete an interest form today! No Kid Hungry is offering grants to summer meal sponsors to ensure more kids in rural communities can access healthy meals in 2024. A new provision of the federal Summer Meals programs allows non-congregate feeding options such as grab-and-go, mobile meals or home delivery in qualifying rural communities. Funds are intended to support the implementation of non-congregate summer meal programs. Send all questions to Kristen Dunphey at kdunphey@strength.org  National Agriculture in the Classroom - Conference Scholarships This year's National Agriculture in the Classroom conference will be held June 25-27 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is an opportunity for educators from across the country to come together to not only experience agriculture within the host state, but to learn more about how to integrate agriculture into the core curriculum of their classroom   There are multiple scholarships available to attend. Learn more here! You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

March 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends!   This week, our team had a great tour of farm to school programs in San Juan, Emery, Carbon, and Grand Counties. Big thanks to everyone who hosted us for school lunch and showcased their work. Shoutout to those leading the charge for the next steps in this movement!   A few words participants have used to describe their experience so far include: Movement Building Nights   Join the movement and register for your region today!   March Workshops: Northern Utah Region - March 19 Uinta Basin Region - March 26   Have suggestions for your region? We want to hear from you! What to Harvest This Month Gardening season is upon us! Begin sowing seeds for cool-season vegetables like peas, lettuce, and radishes as soon as the garden soil becomes workable, adjusting based on your specific location within the state. One of the hardiest greens to grow this spring is spinach. When it’s ready to harvest, try our Chicken and Spinach Quesadilla  recipe! Get Involved! National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) is March 4-8!  Celebrate the importance of a nutritious school breakfast in fueling students for success. This special observance during the first week of March celebrates the national School Breakfast Program and the many ways it gives kids a great start every day. Click here to learn more about the National School Breakfast Program in Utah! Resources and Trainings School Breakfast 101: Implementing Innovative Breakfast Models  |  Thursday, March 7 at 1:00 PM MT Join the Food Research & Action Center  this National School Breakfast Week to learn how schools are supporting student success through innovative breakfast models. The School Breakfast Program supports student health and learning and improves school attendance; however, traditional breakfast models, where breakfast is served before the start of the school day, hinder participation. Innovative breakfast models, such as Breakfast After the Bell, are effective ways to boost participation and ensure children start their day ready to learn. Register here!   A Deep Dive into the Community Eligibility Provision  |  Thursday, March 14 at 1:00 PM MT Join the Food Research & Action Center  to explore the benefits of CEP, and what the lower eligibility threshold means for your schools and community. The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) provides eligible schools the opportunity to nourish all students at no charge. CEP reduces barriers to school meal participation and eases the administrative and operational burdens faced by school districts. In 2023, USDA released a new rule lowering CEP's participation threshold, thus allowing even more schools to participate. Register here!   Virtual Field Trip: Farmers, Robots and Technology - Caring for Cows | Tuesday, March 19 at 1:00 PM MT  Join Dairy West  for a LIVE Virtual Farm Trip to a robotic dairy, where you’ll explore how robots and other technology help dairy farmers feed, monitor, milk and keep their cows as healthy as possible; and their featured farmers will answer your students' questions! This trip is designed for students in grades K-5, with additional classroom resources available upon registration. Register today!   Farm to School Toolkit Training by Growing Minds  |  Wednesday, March 20 at 1:30 PM MT Growing Minds Farm to School Program is part of Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, a nonprofit based in Asheville, NC. We are excited to announce the launch of our new resource: “I Tried Local…” A Toolkit for Engaging Kids with Local Food and Farms. It is designed for use in early care and education (ECE) through second grade and offers curriculum alignment.    In this training you will learn about the different components of the Toolkit, hear success stories from farm to school champions across the state, and brainstorm ways you can start using it in your classroom. All are welcome no matter what your experience with farm to school is!  You can access a digital version of the toolkit here!   Register today! Food Justice Moab Youth Garden Project - 14th Annual Online Auction Fundraiser The Youth Garden Project 2024 Auction Fundraiser is now open! The auction will run from February 28 (8am) to March 5 (8pm). Bid on hundreds of items and experiences in Utah, Colorado, and beyond, all the while supporting YGP's mission of growing healthy food, kids, and community! Click here to bid ! Job Opportunities Utah Ag in the Classroom is hiring a new Director!  |  Logan, UT  |  Apply today! This position is responsible for directing the Utah Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program as part of Utah State University Extension. The program staff develops, promotes, and presents PreK-12 teacher resources as a member of the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization. The program is designed to enhance the ability of teachers to increase student knowledge in agricultural literacy while meeting mandatory Utah core standards in science, social studies, nutrition, and career and technical education. This is a fiscal year (12-month), tenure-track appointment within the Applied Sciences, Technology & Education Department in the College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences at Utah State University.   West Field High School is hiring a CTE Ag Teacher!  |  Ogden, UT  |  Apply today! A position has been declared open in the Weber School District at West Field High School for a CTE AG Teacher. This position is for 8 hours per day, 9 months per year. The courses may include but are not limited to Ag Biology, Animal Science, Plant and Soil Science, Natural Resource Science, GreenHouse Management, Floracultural.     Youth Garden Project is now hiring for seasonal positions!  |  Moab, UT  |  Apply today! Our Youth Programs Instructors work together in a hands-on, outdoor setting to lead a variety of elementary education programs. In the Spring & Fall, YGP hosts two after-school programs, Garden Classroom field trips, and a Spring Break & Fall Break Camp. During the summer, instructors lead YGP Summer Camp, providing much needed high-quality child care for 1st – 6th graders during the summer break. Instructors spend their seasons in a garden in Moab getting to know some of the youngest members of our wonderful community!   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 Utah Outdoor Recreation Grants  - Help build tourism in communities around the state through the construction and expansion of outdoor recreation amenities!   There are multiple grant programs available, including Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant that awards up to $15,000 to community-based non-profit organizations or publicly funded K-12 schools to help get Utah’s K-12 students outside— to learn, gain a skill, and enjoy the outdoors! Applications are due Friday, March 15! Apply today!   National Agriculture in the Classroom - Conference Scholarships This year's National Agriculture in the Classroom conference will be held June 25-27 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This is an opportunity for educators from across the country to come together to not only experience agriculture within the host state, but to learn more about how to integrate agriculture into the core curriculum of their classroom There are multiple scholarships available to attend. Learn more here! Be sure to share your upcoming events, grant opportunities, and jobs with us so that we can share them here! You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!

February 2024 Hello Farm to Fork Friends! Movement Building Workshops are off to a wonderful start! These workshops serve as regional hubs where passionate individuals like yourself come together to learn and grow the farm to school network. So far we have united teachers, nutrition staff, community leaders and more in Cedar City and Salt Lake. A few words participants have used to describe their experience so far include: Inspired - Reconnected - Motivated - Grateful Movement Building Nights   Join the movement and register for your region today!   February Workshops: Wasatch Back Region - February 13th Weber/Morgan Region - February 20th San Juan Region - February 27th Southeast Region - February 28th   Have suggestions for your region? We want to hear from you! What to Harvest This Month This February, enjoy Valentine’s Day with a sweet Beet and Cherry Yogurt Smoothie . Made with frozen Utah cherries and hearty winter beets, it’s a tasty treat you can enjoy all year thanks to preservation methods like drying and freezing.   Get Involved! Happening now in Utah! -- School Lunch Amendments: Expanding School Meals Access for Utah students.  If enacted, the RFA would appropriate $4M to eliminate a household’s co-pay for reduced price meals!   Read the current draft of the RFA here.   Do you support the School Lunch Amendment? Find your legislators  and ask for a YES vote! Resources and Trainings The 2024 National Agriculture Conference is coming to Salt Lake City! Funds are available to offer scholarships to pre-kindergarten to 12th grade teachers to attend. Applications are due February 15. Apply today!   Virtual Field Trip Webinar  |  February 28 at 12 PM Mountain Time  |  Register here!  Join the School Garden Support Organization Network to learn about options to attend field trips as well as resources, tips and advice for creating your own virtual field trip.   Food Justice Sign ups are now open for New Root Weekly Farm Boxes!  New Roots SLC offers a weekly farm box delivery service, providing market exposure and supplemental income for refugee farmers through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Sign up here! Did you know Utah has its very own Food Justice Coalition? Visit their website  and sign up for their newsletter to stay informed on community events, volunteer opportunities and more! Job Opportunities Davis School District Nutrition Services is looking for positive, hard-working people to help feed kids! Career opportunities include permanent cooks, substitute cooks, and part-time cooks to work at various schools throughout the district. Applications open until filled.   Apply today!   Youth Garden Project is now hiring for seasonal positions!  |  Moab, UT  |  Apply today! Our Youth Programs Instructors work together in a hands-on, outdoor setting to lead a variety of elementary education programs. In the Spring & Fall, YGP hosts two after-school programs, Garden Classroom field trips, and a Spring Break & Fall Break Camp. During the summer, instructors lead YGP Summer Camp, providing much needed high-quality child care for 1st – 6th graders during the summer break. Instructors spend their seasons in a garden in Moab getting to know some of the youngest members of our wonderful community! Urban Food Connections of Utah is hiring a full-time Operations Coordinator! Salt Lake City | Apply today! This role will plan and implement Urban Food Connections of Utah’s markets, coordinate operations, seasonal staff, vendor relations, and events. They also coordinate the SNAP and DUFB programs, Local Food Microgrant Program, and other UFCU programs.   Funding Opportunities KidsGardening Grant Opportunities - KidsGardening offers a variety of grants to new and existing youth garden programs across the nation. Each funding opportunity has its own timeline, defining features, eligibility requirements, and reporting expectations. We encourage you to explore their grant programs to see which one might be the best fit for your particular situation. If something catches your eye, you can find more details on each grant’s homepage. Learn more here!   Utah Outdoor Recreation Grants  - This Legislature-authorized grant helps build tourism in communities around the state through the construction and expansion of outdoor recreation amenities.   There are multiple grant programs available, including Utah Outdoor Classroom Grant that awards up to $15,000 to community-based non-profit organizations or publicly funded K-12 schools to help get Utah’s K-12 students outside— to learn, gain a skill, and enjoy the outdoors! Applications are due Friday, March 15! Apply today! You'll hear from us again next month. In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!