Farm to School: September 2024 Newsletter
Local Foods for Schools: A Harvest of Health and Happiness
Welcome to the September edition of our Farm to School newsletter! Despite the lingering outdoor heat, we're hoping for a beautiful Fall season to arrive soon.
In the meantime, we're excited to announce that our Local Food for Schools program is in full swing. Region Roots Local Food Hub and What Chefs Want are committed to bringing fresh, locally sourced foods to our Indiana schools.
This month, we're celebrating the continued growth of our farm-to-school initiatives. Together, we're working to bring fresh, local foods into school cafeterias and classrooms, fostering a love for healthy eating and supporting our local farmers and producers.
By partnering with local farmers, we're supporting our community's economy and nurturing a healthier, more sustainable future for our students and communities.
Indiana Team at National Farm to School Network Meeting
The Indiana Farm to School team made a strong showing at the recent National Farm to School Meeting in Minneapolis. Representatives from the Indiana Department of Health, Indiana Department of Education, and the NWI Food Council joined other farm to school and food system advocates from across the country to discuss best practices, share challenges, and explore new opportunities.
Indiana's team had the opportunity to connect with national experts, learn about innovative programs in other states, discuss Indiana's unique challenges and successes, showcase the great work being done in Indiana to bring local food into schools, and learn about promising programs and initiatives being implemented elsewhere. By participating in this meeting, we were able to strengthen our partnerships and gain valuable insights that will help us continue to advance local foods and local food procurement in Indiana beyond the Local Food for Schools Program.
Save the date!
The 10th National Farm to Cafeteria
Conference is officially scheduled for 2025!
Hosted by the National Farm to School Network, this biennial event will convene hundreds of movement leaders working to source local food for institutional cafeterias and foster a culture of healthy food and agricultural literacy across America.
Harvest of the Month-Local Food Celebration: Tomatoes and Chicken
Indiana Grown for Schools Monthly Harvest Highlight
Website: https://www.ingrown4schools.com/harvest-of-the-mont
OTHER RESOURCES
<<<FEATURED RECIPE>>>
Chicken Ramen Bowl
Everybody loves ramen! This is a kid friendly flavorful
bowl packed with broth, chicken, and tender vegetables.
You can create a noodle bar! The start of the bar can be
based off of this recipe, then expand to offer choice of
noodle, protein, broth, and vegetables to add to the
bowl.
Components: Meat/Meat Alternative, vegetables, and
grains
Serving yield: 100 (You can scale ther recipe)
Looking Ahead:
October Harvest of
the Month Highlight
>>> October
Meat/Meat Alternative - Pork
Fruit - Apple (Apple Crunch)
Vegetable - Pumpkin (Indiana Food Day)
Celebrating Local Food
Our Harvest of the Month is taking center stage in the Local Food for School Celebration Calendar! Each month, we'll dish up delicious recipe ideas featuring the freshest local finds. This isn't just a calendar; it's your secret weapon for creating mouthwatering menus that shine a spotlight on local goodness all school year long!
UPDATES
As we approach the start of school, we invite you to look ahead and join us in celebrating our local farmers and promoting healthy eating. October is National Farm to School Month, and Indiana offers two exceptional opportunities to engage your students. To register your school for these events and access additional resources, please visit the links by clicking on the pictures below.
Indiana Food Day: The Indiana Department of Education, in partnership with community organizations, annually promotes Indiana Food Day to celebrate local food and healthy eating. This year's focus is on Pumpkins, providing a unique opportunity to incorporate this versatile ingredient into your menus.
Indiana Great Apple Crunch: Encouraging healthy habits and supporting local food initiatives, the Indiana Great Apple Crunch takes place annually in conjunction with Indiana Food Day. This event highlights the state's culinary diversity while promoting farm-to-school practices.
Action for Healthy Kids Recognition Awards
Are you a School Food Hero? Revolutionizing school meals?
Action for Healthy Kids wants to hear about it!
The Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards are back, and they're better than ever. The process has been streamlined so you can focus on what you do best: creating amazing school meals.
Whether you've built a rockstar "Build Your Plate" station or launched a cooking class that's got the whole community talking, Action for Healthy Kids wants to celebrate your success. Let's shine a spotlight on your innovative ideas and inspire others to join the healthy meal movement!
Ready to be recognized? Apply here!
RESOURCES
Farm to School Office Hours
Join Farm to School Coordinators from the Indiana Grown for Schools Network and other farm to school and early care stakeholders each month to discuss and find answers to your questions related to local foods. Farm to school office hours are on the third Wednesday of each month from 3:30 - 4:30 PM ET. You can request a monthly calendar hold by emailing Brianna Goode at bgoode@health.in.gov
Questions or feedback about the program?
Would love to hear from you!
Reach out to Veronica Jalomo, Farm-to-School Coordinator,
veronica@nwifoodcouncil.org, (765) 412-6136
