Center for Regional Food Systems Michigan Farm to Institution Network

• Cultivate Michigan: What's in it for Schools and Early Childhood Programs?

  Published on December 14, 2016
  This webinar will give an overview of Cultivate Michigan and then dive deep into the benefits of participating. Learn how joining Cultivate Michigan can enhance and accelerate your local purchasing efforts and find out why others are jumping on board!

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  Understanding How Michigan Institutions Define Local Food

  Published on December 6, 2016
  The Michigan Farm to Institution Network informally surveyed Michigan institutions to better understand what they consider “local” as it relates to food procurement.

• Farm to Early Care and Education Webinar Series

  Published on November 28, 2016
  Farm to Early Care and Education centers around buying and using fresh, local foods in early childcare and education programs. The 2016-2017 Farm to ECE webinar series will cover a variety of topics in short webinar format.

• Cultivate Michigan 2016 Data Brief

  Published on October 21, 2016
  This brief provides a snapshot of the Cultivate Michigan campaign’s current standing and progress made since launch.

• Michigan Farm to School: Calumet Center and Sharkar Farms

  Published on October 6, 2016
  The Calumet Center, a juvenile center in Highland Park, Michigan, is partnering with Sharkar Farms through Hoophouses for Health.

• How to Join Cultivate Michigan

  Published on June 22, 2016
  If you’re a food service director or buyer at a Michigan institution, check out this webinar to learn about the Cultivate Michigan campaign and how your institution can sign up to track purchases and reach for the MI Good Food Charter goal

• Cultivate Michigan: What It Is and How to Help Institutions Sign Up

  Published on June 22, 2016
  Intended for partners of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network who can be allies and ambassadors for Cultivate Michigan around the state, this webinar covers how Cultivate Michigan works and how to help institutions in your area sign up.

• Farmer Perspectives on Farm to Institution in Michigan

  Published on May 5, 2016
  In 2015, Michigan farmers were interviewed about their experiences and perceptions of selling to institutions.

• Farm to Summer: Incorporating Local Foods into Summer Food Service Programs Webinar

  Published on May 5, 2016
  This webinar covers the basics of Farm to Summer, how to incorporate local purchasing into summer food service programs, and provides examples of Farm to Summer programs happening throughout Michigan.

• Increasing Local Food Purchasing through Forward Contracting

  Published on April 22, 2016
  This webinar discusses the different ways schools can use a forward contract when purchasing local foods, how to get started, and the benefits for both farmers and K-12 schools and early childhood programs.

• Garden to Cafeteria: Using On-Site Gardens to Supply Meal Programs Webinar

  Published on February 17, 2016
  This webinar is meant as a companion to the resource Garden to Cafeteria: A step-by-step guide, which provides a framework for sourcing products from school gardens for use in food programs.

• Sourcing Local Foods: Understanding Procurement Rules and Regulations Webinar

  Published on February 17, 2016
  This webinar on proper procurement procedures for sourcing local food for school and early childhood food programs includes strategies for successfully navigating the process.

• A Cultivate Michigan Local Food Distribution Tour

  Published on January 18, 2016
  Offered in conjunction with the Michigan Green Healthcare Conference, this Cultivate Michigan tour highlights a local food distribution facility. Cherry Capital Foods provides only Michigan foods to Michigan customers, including institutions.

• Garden to Cafeteria: A Step-by-Step Guide

  Published on January 7, 2016
  This Garden to Cafeteria Guide provides an approach for school garden educators and stakeholders, both experienced and newcomer, to successfully source products from school gardens for use in the cafeteria or food program.

• Evaluating the Economic Impacts of Local and Regional Food Systems: Best Practices Webinar

  Published on January 4, 2016
  This webinar is an overview of the local food economic impact toolkit funded by USDA AMS.

• Blueberries Tour 2014: A Cultivate Michigan Video

  Published on December 10, 2015
  In this Cultivate Michigan tour Barbara Norman’s Farm and True Blue Farms Processing Plant describe how their farms operate with a special kind of local connection that Cultivate Michigan strives to make more common.

• An Annotated Bibliography of Farm to Institution Research in Michigan

  Published on November 18, 2015
  Farm to Institution work in Michigan centers on efforts to increase the amount of local foods purchased and used in food service programs at schools, early childhood programs, hospitals, colleges, and other institutions.

• Michigan Farm to Institution Network and Cultivate Michigan Info Sheet

  Published on July 28, 2015
  This two-pager provides an overview of the work of the Michigan Farm to Institution Network.

• Apple Tour 2014: A Cultivate Michigan Video

  Published on February 11, 2015
  This Cultivate Michigan tour takes place at Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill. Blake Farms is a family owned and operated orchard & cider mill rooted in strong family traditions and a commitment to excellence.

• Farm to School Sales Webinar

  Published on February 10, 2015
  Michigan farmers and food service directors talk about their experiences with Farm to School sales as part of the Hoophouses for Health program.