Farm to Kids Roadshow: Building Local Foods Relationships
Are you a Minnesota farmer or producer who is looking to expand your market opportunities?
Are you a school or early care provider who would like to incorporate more locally grown food in your meal program?
The Minnesota Farm to Kids Roadshow will bring together producers, school nutrition professionals and early care providers to make new connections and learn how to build successful relationships. This series of in-person events will include training and facilitated networking opportunities. Attend a session near you.
Bonus this year! Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) trainings will be offered for FREE at each of the Roadshows, except Hutchinson! Registration is required if you plan on attending GAPs. Lunch will be provided if you register for both GAPs and Roadshow sessions. See below for more details!
Dates and Locations for in-person events:
REGISTER HERE
The Minnesota Farm to School Roadshow is free and organized by Renewing the Countryside, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Education, and University of Minnesota Extension. Funding is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Patrick Leahy Farm to School program.
All sessions will close at capacity so register early!
Questions? Email Sara George at [email protected]
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) For anyone who grows, harvests or packs fresh vegetables for sale to markets or who donates food to others.
This session will focus on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) on the farm. These trainings are taught by the University of Minnesota Extension staff Annalisa Hultberg and experienced farmer-trainers.
Topics
- Best practices to improve safety in growing, harvesting, washing and handling of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Compost/manure use
- Water testing
- Coolers
- Packing area designs and ideas
- Wildlife and pets
- Low-cost handwashing stand
- Creating written procedures to improve safety and efficiency on your farm
- Meeting requirements for a GAP audit
- The FSMA Produce Safety Rule
Farm to Kids Roadshow Agenda
Relationship Building
Meet your Farm to Kids community! Meet your local farmers, food service directors, regional local food coordinators (RLFC’s) and other local food system supporters who have the resources you need to succeed!
Farm to Kids Resources and Support with Kate Seybold, MN Department of Agriculture and Jayme Anderson, MN Department of Education
Hear from state agency staff about resources and supports available in MN to help farmers, food service staff, educators, and communities engage and succeed with Farm to Kids work!, This session will highlight free resources, trainings, recipes, and menu suggestions, grant funding and more!
School Kitchen Tour with your local Food Service Director
Tour a school kitchen to discover tools and equipment that could be useful in your kitchen. Some favorite Farm to School equipment items you may see include: Combi-ovens, Robo Coupes, or a tilt skillet. Learn firsthand how this equipment helps the foodservice staff. Farmers and producers will also gain valuable insight into the school kitchen space- how much space is in a typical school kitchen? What refrigeration and freezer space is available? What equipment is essential for preparing the crops you produce? The tour will be a great peek behind the scenes of school foodservice operations.
Making Community Connections
Time for prospective buyers and producers to meet and talk about potential connections for sales.
Minnesota Farm to Kids 2025 Annual Report
Renewing the Countryside is a strong partner of the Minnesota Farm to Kids Alliance. The Minnesota Farm to Kids Alliance aims to unite the efforts of people supporting Farm to School and Early Care to nourish children’s bodies and minds, cultivate viable farms, and build vibrant communities in our state.
We work together to support:
• Development of relationships and infrastructure that advance the production and sustained purchase of local foods.
• Integration of food and agriculture into teaching and learning.
• Availability of diversified, flexible funding to advance Farm to Kids strategies.
• Increased public awareness and participation in Farm to Kids in Minnesota.
This inaugural report presents the current state of Farm to Kids in Minnesota. It highlights some of the many accomplishments achieved by Farm to Kids Alliance members and stakeholders over the past year, showcases innovative efforts happening at local, regional, and statewide levels, and offers a look ahead at what’s to come. Click the image below to read the full report.
Members of the Minnesota Farm to Kids Alliance include:
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), Land Stewardship Project (LSP), Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), Minnesota School Nutrition Association (MSNA), Providers Choice Renewing the Countryside (RTC), and the University of Minnesota Extension (UMN Extension).
Renewing the Countryside Expands Farm to Kids Work
Are you looking for resources to start a Farm to Kids Program, either for a school or early care facility? Have you had challenges navigating Farm to Kids Work? Or, do you want to connect with experienced advocated in your region who can help you get the information and resources you need? We can help with ALL of that!
Farm to Kids can feel complicated. There is confusion about who to reach out to when you have questions. Having a go-to person that understands your region, climate and challenges, along with understanding regulations of local food, can make a huge difference. This new team of Regional Local Food Coordinators will be that “go-to support” to help answer questions and share resources for anyone looking to participate in Farm to Kids programs (both school and early care options).
Are you interested in working with one of our Regional Local Food Coordinators? Fill out our Intake Form today and we will connect you!
Funding for the Regional Local Food Coordinator project is provided by the Minnesota Department of Education through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School State Formula grant.
Email Sara George at [email protected] or Alexandria Harris at [email protected] for more information.
Farm to Kid Resource Links
Are you a farmer looking to get involved with Farm to Kid work? Click on the Farmer Support image (right) for a pdf of resource links. Are you a school or early care provider looking to have local food at your facility? Click the School & Early Care image (left) for relevant resource links! Need a resource that isn't provide?! Reach out for more assistance!
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