Funding for the Farm to School Grant Program is at a critical point!

Submit written testimony by Wednesday March 22nd!

Help us advocate for continued funding of $10.2 million for Oregon's Farm to School Grant Program!

Please join the Oregon Farm to School and School Garden Network in our efforts to secure continued, stable funding for the Oregon Farm to School Grant Program. This year we do not have a proposed bill, instead the program will be included in the Department of Education's Budget.

Funding for the Farm to School Grant Program is at a critical point!

It's time to advocate to the legislature! 

We need to show strong support for fully funding this suite of grant programs - currently the Governor's Recommended Budget includes a $2.4 million cut to the program which would have significant impacts on children, food producers, and  local communities.

The OFSSGN is working to demonstrate support for the Farm to School Grant in the Oregon Department of Education Budget. The ODE Budget Bill (HB 5014) has been scheduled for a Public Hearing on Thursday March 23rd at 8:00am

We need to demonstrate strong support from the farm to school community for funding at $10.2 million!

Please use the below guidance, which includes background info, how to submit testimony, with sample testimony and talking points to show your support for the Program!

Background
The Farm to School Grant Program is a suite of funding programs that supports the purchase of Oregon foods for schools and early childcare education centers; funds hands-on farm and garden educational programs; supports equipment and infrastructure for food producers; and funds technical assistance and training for the farm to school community.

What: Public Hearing on the Oregon Department of Education Budget
When: Thursday March 23rd 8:00am

Submit written testimony by Wednesday March 22nd!

 


What do the Farm to School Grants fund?

Oregon Food: school districts, summer meal programs and Head Start and other center-based early childcare and education sites purchase Oregon foods, through an opt-in grant program for all districts and a competitive grant program for districts that are making the most impactful, healthy purchases;

Education: districts and partner organizations educate children about food and agriculture;

Infrastructure and Equipment: producers meet the needs of schools, and increase their capacity to sell to schools and other institutions

Technical assistance: state-wide and regional partners provide technical assistance, training and resources to farm to school stakeholders and address barriers and challenges supporting success state-wide.

Farm to School and School Gardens support healthy, resilient communities!

Farm to School Grants provide funding for schools to purchase healthy, local foods, supporting local farmers and providing much needed economic relief and recovery.

Farm to School is leveraging and keeping
millions of federal dollars in Oregon, and at the same time providing Oregon fruits, vegetables, meats, beans, grains and dairy to hungry kids during and after school.

Student physical and social-emotional health is supported by hands-on learning in school gardens, nourishing food and connection to their local community.

This comprehensive suite of Grant Programs serves to build a resilient local food and education system that can serve as a community hub in times of crisis.

Farm to School is a win, win, win! Supporting kids, farms and communities!

For more information, contact:
Melina Barker, Director
Oregon Farm to School & School Garden Network
Email

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Supporting Endorsers

1000 Friends of Oregon
29 Branded Beef
Ashland school district
Bandon Organic Growers
Beaverton SD Nutrition Services
Bend La Pine Schools
Bend Urban Gardens LLC
Beyond Toxics
Big Fun Beverages
Cabral Livestock
Capaces Leadership Institute
Children's Museum of So Oregon (formally Kid Time) / Ivy School Preschool
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District
Coalition of Oregon School Administrators
Come Thru Market
Community Co-Pack
Corbett School District
Corvallis Environmental Center
CPSD6
Crater Renaissance Academy
Curry Watersheds Partnership
Dayton School District
Deck Family Farm
Dufur School
Ecotrust
Eugene School District 4J
Farmers Market Fund
Food Roots
FoodCorps
Froerer Farms inc.
Fry Family Farm
Genuine Wallowa County LLC dba GWC Provisions
Good Rain Farm
Gray Family Foundation
Green Heart Garden
Grow Portland
Growing Gardens
H.B. Lee Middle School
Hardy Seeds
Head Start of Lane County
HealTerra
HolleyHawk Garden Club
Hood River County School District
Humming Bee Nursery
Hummingbird Wholesale

Impact NW-Supa Fresh/Creekside Community HS
Keep Growing Seeds LLC
Klamath County School District
La Grande School District
Lebanon Community School Dist
Lincoln County School District
Lindauer Confections
Luckiamute Valley Charter Schools
Marion Polk Food Share
Mt. Angel School District #91
Oasis Wellness Garden
Oregon Beef Council
Oregon Food Bank
Oregon Head Start Association
Oregon Organic Coalition
Oregon Processed Vegetable Commission
Oregon PTA
Oregon PTA
Oregon School Nutrition Association
Organically Grown Company
OSU Extension Wasco County 4H
OtterBee's Market
Outgrowing Hunger
Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon
Pat~n~Tams Beef
Phoenix Elementary School
Phoenix-Talent Schools
Portland Nursery
Portland Public Schools
Prairie City School District #4
Redmond School District
RedTwig Education
Rogue Valley Farm to School
Salant Family Ranch
Serendipity Center
Small Baking Co
Southern Oregon food Solutions (SOFS)
St. Helens SD #502
Sustainable Living Center
Tre-Fin Foods
Umatilla School District
Umi Organic
Valley Flora Farm
Willamette Farm and Food Coalition
Zenger Farm