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
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!
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