[farm.school] FW: [COMFOOD:] Virginia Farm to School Week Update- November 9-13, 2009

[Renee Page]

Check out Virginia's F2S webpage and resources.
 
Renee Page, MPH, CLC
School/Youth Program Manager
Healthy Communities of the Capital Area
A Local Healthy Maine Partnership
36 Brunswick Avenue
Gardiner, ME 04345
tel. 207-588-5020
cell. 207-557-2945
fax. 207-582-5804
rpage at mcd.org
Visit us online at www.healthycommunitiesme.org <http://www.healthycommunitiesme.org/>  
 
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
 
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________________________________

From: Sympa user on behalf of Benson, Matthew
Sent: Thu 11/5/2009 2:46 PM
To: 'comfood at elist.tufts.edu'
Subject: [COMFOOD:] Virginia Farm to School Week Update- November 9-13, 2009



Especially for those in Virginia...

 

On behalf of the Virginia Department of Education (DOE), Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS) and Virginia Farm to School Work Group, I would like to provide a brief update regarding the upcoming Virginia Farm to School Week, November 9 - 13, 2009.

 

Official communication from both Virginia DOE (http://www.doe.virginia.gov/info_centers/administrators/superintendents_memos/2009/304-09.shtml) and VDACS (http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/news/releases-b/102809f2s.shtml) has been released encouraging every School Nutrition Director, community and the states agricultural industry to participate in sourcing local and regional foods for there cafeterias and lunch lines next week. As part of this initiative, special focus is being made to source Virginia apples for lunches.

 

Already, we are aware of many participating school districts such as Albemarle County, Goochland County, James City County, Augusta County, Harrisonburg City, Madison County several private schools in Richmond, Rappahannock County and Rockbridge County.

 

Many resources are available on the Virginia Farm to School Website: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/farm.shtml. These include:

 

*        Getting Started- Farm to School 101- http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/pdf/f2sgettingstarted.pdf

 

*        Where to find Virginia Apple Growers- http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/pdf/applefarms.pdf

 

o       Virginia Grown Apple Fact Sheet- http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/pdf/applefacts.pdf

 

*        Virginia Produce Availability Chart- http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/marketing/pdf/farmproducechart.pdf

 

Although it is a little late in the growing season, many products are still available such as apples, pears, asian pears, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, greens, potatoes, swiss chard and butternut squash. And of course meats and dairy products are available year round!


Farm to School is something we can all support by connecting our local producers and growers to our local cafeterias, cultivating school gardens, and talking with Virginia's youth about the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

Best regards,
Matt

 

Matt Benson

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Community Viability Specialist

Northern District Office

P.O. Box 701

Warrenton, Virginia 20188

(540) 341-7961

 

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