January 19, 2023

This Week in Farm to School 

Farm to school connects local agriculture, schools, and partners to benefit students, educators, farmers, families, and communities.

2023 North Carolina Jr Chef Competition (NCJCC)

Teams of 2-4 high school students (grades 9-12) currently enrolled in a North Carolina public school that participate in the National School Lunch Program can participate. Student teams must develop a recipe for a school lunch entrée that meets NSLP guidelines, includes at least two North Carolina-grown ingredients and one USDA Food item, and appeals to students. Applications with recipes, recipe photos and permission forms are due February 3.

Learn more here.

Structural Racism and Health Implications 

January 20, 2023 // 11 am - 1 pm ET

Join the Durham County Food Security Office for their first of four virtual trainings focused on food justice. The first session will be led by Dr. Jay Pearson from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. For more information, contact Mary Oxendine, moxendine@dconc.gov.

Join the training here.

Seasonal Maintenance of Major Fruit and Vegetable Crops Webinar

January 24, 2023 // 12 pm - 1 pm ET

Join Melissa Bell from the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) and John Lyttle, NC Cooperative Extension Agent for Durham County for a free webinar. They will focus on 4 common summer crops and 4 common fall/winter crops. They will discuss varieties, trellising options, pruning for plant health and disease control, as well as some common pests.

Learn more here.

White Narratives in Food Security

January 25, 2023 // 10 am - 12 pm ET

Join the Durham County Food Security Office for their second of four virtual trainings focused on food justice. This session will be lead by Jen Zuckerman from the Duke University World Food Policy Center. For more information, contact Mary Oxendine, moxendine@dconc.gov.

View the training here.

2023 NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference

February 22, 2023 // 8 am - 4 pm ET

Registration is now open for the 2023 NC Child Hunger Leaders Conference, an annual day of celebration and inspiration for anyone invested in making sure kids have access to healthy food. The one-day event is presented by the Carolina Hunger Initiative at UNC and will take place at The Friday Conference Center in Chapel Hill. Attendees will have a chance to connect with other child hunger leaders from across the state, learn about new strategies and success stories, and leave reenergized to continue the fight against child hunger.  

Register here.

North Carolina Alliance for Health School Meals Glossary

This glossary shares terms that are commonly discussed in regard to school meals. There are also helpful notes to help you explore a term or program further. 

Learn more here.

North Carolina Ag in the Classroom Books

Ag in the Classroom (AITC) is a unique educational program affiliated with North Carolina Farm Bureau (NCFB). The educational program is dedicated to fostering an understanding for the importance of agriculture in North Carolina. The Ag in the Classroom team has curated some books that explore various agricultural and food stories from around the world. Educators can order NC Ag in the Classroom Books of the Month for $5. An activity sheet accompanies the book for integration into classroom lessons.

Learn more here.

Life Lab School Garden Resources

Drawing on over forty years of work with young people in gardens, Life Lab, is a national leader in the garden-based learning movement. Through workshops and consultations, they have provided tens of thousands of educators across the country with the inspiration and information necessary to engage young people in gardens and on farms. Check out Life Lab’s extensive collection of resources to support your school gardening efforts.

Learn more here.

You Can Do It! Talking to Young Children About Race

Embrace Race’s Action Guide shares how to address race when talking to young children. 

Learn more here.

Soul Fire Farm Language Justice Guide // Guia De La Justicia Del Lenguaje 

Soul Fire Farm has created a resource that explores Language Justice as a framework that transcends language access and uplifts the languages that go beyond speech. 

Learn more here.

GroMoreGood Grassroots Grants

Deadline: February 10, 2023

The GrowMoreGood Grassroots Grant, brought to you by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening, is designed to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens to communities across the United States. The Grassroots Grants are part of The Scotts Miracle-Gro’s larger GroMoreGood initiative, which will bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces to 10 million children by the end of 2023. 

Learn more here.

2023 NCDA&CS Specialty Crop Block Grant Program

Deadline: March 3, 2023 

The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting grant applications for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Nonprofits and government agencies wishing to apply should send a pdf draft application to jenni.keith@ncagr.gov. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program aims to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. The department will accept grant requests up to $200,000.

Learn more here.

School Nutrition Foundation Equipment Grants

Deadline: March 31, 2023

The School Nutrition Foundation is teaming up with industry partners to provide new kitchen equipment to deserving districts. Apply now for the 2023 SNF Equipment Grant Program, featuring applications for five grants! Eligible applicants have the opportunity to win equipment grants, each worth between $20,000 to $100,000 of equipment. Applications and photos must be submitted by a School Nutrition Director. There is a submission cap of 30 applications for each grant. 

Learn more here.

School Meals Advocacy Day

Save the date for the North Carolina Alliance for Health's advocacy day on March 14 to share the importance of school meals with the North Carolina General Assembly.

Register here. 

School Meals for All Campaign Letters of Support

The North Carolina Alliance for Health, Carolina Hunger Initiative, the Center for Black Health and Equity, A Better Chance A Better Community (ABC2), and other partners across North Carolina have launched a School Meals for All Campaign! They are looking for organizations and individuals to sign a letter of support regarding the School Meals for All in North Carolina campaign. 

Learn more and sign up here.

State Universal Meals Policies

This report created by the National Farm to School Network explores how many states have introduced or passed universal meals. 

Learn more here.