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State looks for partners to promote healthy eating

MADISON — Wisconsin officials are encouraging local organizations to try to get into a program that promotes healthy eating in K-12 schools.

Farm to School is a federally funded program that has the state partnering with AmeriCorps to help schools get local foods and reduce childhood obesity.

Officials say organizations including state agencies, universities and non-profit groups are invited to apply. The deadline is April 26.

AmeriCorps says it got 23 applications last year and selected seven organizations.

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, is now accepting applications to be an AmeriCorps Farm to School site for the 2013-2014 school year. Host sites for the AmeriCorps Farm to School Program can be a non-profit organization, state agency, university, school, school district or group of schools. Each site must have a letter of support from the schools it will serve. New sites would begin Aug. 15.

Each site receives at least two half-time AmeriCorps members. One will focus on community outreach, connecting schools to farmers and the community. A nutrition education member will implement educational activities within the school.

Sites must be able to provide support to their AmeriCorps members, help create a local Farm to School task force in their community as well as complete pre-and post-evaluations of the program. Sites must also contribute $5,500 for each full-time member and $2,000 for each half-time member to be used as a cash match for operapting expenses of the program.

The seven current sites include Ashland and Bayfield counties, Growing Power of Milwaukee County, Live54218 of Brown County, REAP Food Group of Dane County, UW-Extension Crawford County and Vernon County. These sites serve many school districts and about 15,000 students.

The application as a site is due to DATCP by 4:30 p.m. on April 26. Applicants are highly encouraged to complete a notice of intent to apply by 4:30 p.m. on March 17 to assist with program planning.

To receive an application, visit http://datcp.wi.gov/Business/Buy_Local_Buy_Wisconsin/Farm_to_School_Program.

For more information, contact DATCP's Camilla Vargas at (608) 224-5017 or email her at camillavargas@wi.gov