Center for Regional Food Systems

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  On-Farm Food Safety Webinar: Michigan Farm to Institution Network Virtual Network Meeting

  Published on June 4, 2021
  This webinar recording features presentations and discussions that focus on essential produce safety practices for farm to institution programs.

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  It’s a SNAP: The Value of Nutrition Incentives for Brick and Mortar Retailers

  Published on April 21, 2021
  Brick and mortar retailers who source and sell local foods can tailor their operations and marketing techniques to sell to SNAP audiences.

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  10 Cents a Meal Info Session for Farms and Food Distributors

  Published on April 8, 2021
  Farmers and food distributors can watch this info session recording to learn more about 10 Cents a Meal, including who it reaches, how it works, and results it has produced.

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  Pivoting Practice: Early Care and Education Food Procurement During a Pandemic

  Published on April 8, 2021
  While the pandemic presents many challenges for farm to early care and education, childcare providers are benefitting from opportunities to buy and serve local foods.

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  Buying Local: A 10 Cents a Meal Training for 2020-2021 Grantees

  Published on March 12, 2021
  This training for 10 Cents Grantees in 2020-2021 school year includes a primer on procurement, sources and resources for purchasing local foods, and testimonials from school food service directors about their farm to school experiences .

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  Webinar Series: Loan Preparation for New and Beginning Farmers

  Published on March 8, 2021
  Loans are an important tool for growing any business and if approached with the right groundwork, can be a beneficial part of your farm business development.

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  A Food Retailer’s Guide to Getting Started with Offering Local Food

  Published on March 4, 2021
  This paper is an introductory guide for food retailers who want to begin offering local foods to their customers.

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  Practicing Inclusion in Meetings: A Case Study from a Michigan Food Systems Network Meeting

  Published on March 3, 2021
  This paper presents a case study of how the Michigan Farm to Institution Network sought to practice inclusion in a statewide meeting and what was learned in the process.

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  The Effects of COVID-19 on Michigan Local Food Councils and Their Communities

  Published on February 17, 2021
  How have local food councils in Michigan responded to COVID-19, what has supported or challenged their attempts to adapt, and what will a post-pandemic “normal” mean for councils and their communities?

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  Webinar - Building Relationships Across Higher Education Institutions to Address Racism in the Food System

  Published on February 15, 2021
  This webinar provides an overview of the history and policy that helped land-grant institutions develop and reimagines a model of collaborative research and outreach across these institutions to advance food system sustainability and resiliency.

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  An Introduction to Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Nutrition Incentive Program Research and Evaluation

  Published on February 9, 2021
  This paper overviews the role of a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens in nutrition incentive program research and evaluation.

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  Webinar - Encouraging Collaborations with Indigenous Communities: Experiences of Extension Educators

  Published on February 8, 2021
  Katie Hartmann of Colorado State University shares her research on inequitable access to Extension resources and land-grant education in the Western U.S.

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  Michigan Farm to Institution Network by the Numbers 2020

  Published on December 30, 2020
  An at-a-glance overview of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network's accomplishments from 2010-2020.

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  Webinar - Building food council networks that support health, local economies and equity

  Published on December 21, 2020
  Local food council networks from Kansas, Michigan, and North Carolina discuss responses to COVID-19 in their work, the importance of using an equity lens, lessons learned, and where their work is going next.

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  Findings of the 2019 National Food Hub Survey

  Published on December 18, 2020
  This report summarizes key findings, trends, and takeaways and provides extensive figures to illustrate longitudinal data on food hubs in the United States.

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  Michigan Farm to School and 10 Cents Updates, Crisis Management, and On-Farm Conservation

  Published on December 18, 2020
  In this Michigan Farm to Institution Network meeting, learn about results from a local food purchasing survey of Michigan schools and what to expect in the year ahead for 10 Cents a Meal.

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  A Call to Build Trust and Center Values in Food Systems Work

  Published on November 9, 2020
  This report offers the authors' reflections on transformative food systems change and resources to help food systems practitioners work toward racial justice and equity.

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  Local Food Purchasing at Michigan Schools: 2019-2020 Survey Results

  Published on October 29, 2020
  This short report shares data that shows that local food purchasing is increasing in Michigan K-12 schools, including what local food sources were used and a comparison of results for 10 Cents grantees with those for all directors.

• We (All) Need to Talk About Race: Building Extension's Capacity for Dialogue and Action

  Published on October 22, 2020
  This commentary in the Journal of Extension highlights the great need for increased education and capacity building to address racism and prioritize racial equity both within our institutions and in the communities we serve.

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  2020 Michigan Good Food Summit - Farm to Institution: Pandemic Updates from the Field

  Published on October 20, 2020
  This MFIN Virtual Network Meeting brought together Foodservice professionals, farmers, food suppliers, and vendors as well as farm to institution supporters and advocates.