Recognizing the need for local and organically grown food in schools-to increase both the physical health and learning capacity of America’s youth-the farm-to-school movement is spreading across the nation, inspired in part by Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project.
Nathan Bates and Boyne Falls Public School are a shining testament to the impact of northwest lower Michigan’s flourishing farm to school movement. It is a movement that is benefiting schoolchildren both nutritionally and academically and, at the same time, is giving small and mid-size farmers a growing market for their crops and helping them stay on their land.
Read individual stories that we excerpted in our September 2017 report, “Health Kids, Thriving Farms” which covers Groundwork’s 15 years of building the Farm to School movement in northwest Michigan.
Thanks to the Michigan Legislature, schools in 29 counties of Michigan have just been notified of an opportunity to tap into state funds to show the difference a dime can make in their efforts to serve Michigan-grown fruits, vegetables and dry beans to students. Michigan legislators expanded the popular 10 Cents a Meal for School Kids & Farms program from $250,000 in general funds last year to $375,000 for the upcoming school year; and added a third, six-county region in Washtenaw in southeast Michigan.
We at Groundwork are expanding our reach into Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet counties. On June 15, we launched a new Petoskey office to support an expansion of the organization’s farm to school, food access, and farmer support projects.
The Michigan Legislature is considering whether to continue, or expand, the impactful 10 Cents a Meal state pilot project that is increasing business from schools for a significant number of farms and related food companies throughout Michigan. A state Senate subcommittee has included continued funding, but the House, so far, has not. Visit www.TenCentsMichigan.org to learn how to contact your local legislator.