MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

09/08/2026

🍐 Hop into the Michigan’s Farm to School and Early Care Network quarterly All-Network Meeting to share resources, celebrate wins, and network with fellow farm to youth champions in Michigan. We'll share great Farm to School Month celebration ideas, details on Michigan Apple Crunch and so much more!

Location: Zoom
Time and Date: September 10, 2026 at 1-2:30 p.m.
Register here: https://pears.io/events/msuext/9301/

09/04/2026

Are you curious about food systems planning? Join the Statewide & Regional Food Systems Plans National Community of Practice (NCoP) Session to hear guest speakers Lia Kelinsky-Jones and Shadrack Nii Yarboi Yartey from Virginia Tech share lessons from recent efforts on how plans get started, stakeholders are engaged, and what helps or hinders food system implementation over time.

📆September 10
🕑3:00PM - 4:30PM

Register now to save your spot: https://www.canr.msu.edu/events/learning-across-food-systems-plans

09/03/2026

🌱 Get ready to celebrate Week! Join NCA for our free webinar, Root for Local Food: Let’s Cheer for Farm to CACFP on September 10.

Discover simple ways to participate, from sharing resources with families to planning hands-on activities and creating opportunities to connect children with local foods. You may already be incorporating Farm to CACFP ideas into your program!

Register today and get inspired with new ways to celebrate local food.

09/03/2026

Join us on September 25 for an Author Talk with Nessa Richman! During this free, in-person event, she will share practical strategies and actionable, research-based tools for building a more equitable, resilient local food system.

All are welcome, but registration is required: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/rgbjj7z

09/01/2026

Read Exploring the Roots to learn more about the deep work that led to this summer's launch of the Michigan Farm to School and Early Care Network. Dig into Michigan's history of supporting programs and people that buy local food, grow gardens, and teach children about food and farming.

Learn more: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/exploring-the-roots

09/01/2026

Farm to CACFP is more than gardening.

It also includes serving local foods, offering taste tests, visiting farmers markets, reading farm-themed books, cooking with children and teaching where food comes from. Every activity helps connect children with healthy foods in meaningful ways.

No matter your budget or program size, there are simple ways to get involved. Explore the Rooted in Community resource at https://www.cacfp.org/assets/pdf/Rooted+in+Community+cacfp.org/ for even more Farm to CACFP ideas, then learn more at cacfp.org/farmtocacfpweek.

Which Farm to CACFP activity have you tried?

09/01/2026

September is Organic Month, and the last chance for farmers exploring organic certification, or in transition, to access free resources such as webinars, videos, research and fact sheets from the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP).

Find TOPP resources here: www.organictransition.org/resources.

Since 2022, TOPP has helped thousands of farmers transition to organic, connecting producers across the country with experienced mentors, technical assistance, educational opportunities and practical resources.

08/31/2026

08/28/2026

“The Good Food for Michigan Pledge showcases collective commitment to bringing more local food into procurement practices while offering support and flexibility to farmers and school officials.”
-Melanie Tran, Michigan impact manager at the Center for Good Food Purchasing.

Learn more about the Good Food for Michigan Project and sign our pledge on our website!

Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development - MDARD
MSU Center for Regional Food Systems

https://goodfoodpurchasing.org/good-food-for-michigan/