Western Upper Peninsula Farm to School
Farm to School Project Phase I (2021-2023)
Over the past few years, there have been significant strides in our region to support Farm to School. In 2021, the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region and community partners received a planning grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. The first phase of the grant united community partners, farmers, and schools in the Western U.P. with the goal of supporting farm to school activities. Key activities focused on increasing local food purchases by schools, providing technical assistance for food service directors applying for additional funding, support for local farms with food safety mini-grants, on-farm safety visits, connecting local farmers with nearby schools, and a photovoice project.
Project Highlights:
At the end of the two-year grant, three new farms were selling produce to a local school, and 8 farms in total committed to selling to schools within the next two years.
Eight farms were granted supplies to encourage food safety such as wash packs, stainless steel packing tables, water filters, water testing kits, and more.
Partners worked with local farms to create the Farm to School Directory, highlighting the best way to contact local farms committed to selling to schools.
The final photovoice project Sharing Abundance and Adversity: Food Stories from the Keweenaw was published and put on display at multiple schools this past fall. Read more about the photovoice project here.
Two new positions hired
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Farm to School: Lessons in fresh, local food December 6, 2023
That’s the lunch bell! Western U.P. farm to school feeds local students tasty, fresh foods November 1, 2023
WUPPDR Partners with CCSID and G-OISD for the Farm to School Program October 31, 2023
Farm to School initiative provides locally grown produce to U.P. schools July 26, 2023
Connecting Western U.P. Students with Local Food, June 20, 2023
What’s for Lunch? Farm to School in Michigan 2023
Farm to School Blossoms in the Western U.P. October 11, 2022
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Report: Local Food Service Director Needs (2022)
Report: Farmer Needs and Opportunities (2022)
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