Northwest lower Michigan is taking a significant step forward in promoting local food in schools, thanks to new funding that will support dedicated staff members focused on nutrition and garden education. Five schools within the Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District (ISD) have each been awarded $40,000 grants, spread over two years, to bolster the use of locally grown foods and cultivate a culture of food health among students.

This initiative is part of a broader national movement, with the United Way of Northwest Michigan and the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities leading the charge locally. These organizations have secured the Whole Child Nutrition: Policy, Infrastructure, Food Literacy grant through the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, which aims to provide seed funding for the creation of Farm to School Coordinator positions in the participating schools.

These coordinators will play a pivotal role in enhancing farm to school programs by offering garden and nutrition education, advocating for participation in Michigan’s 10 Cents a Meal program and assisting in the procurement of local produce. They will also curate school menus to include more scratch-cooked meals, lead family engagement events around wellness and facilitate student-led conversations about nutrition.

This effort builds on the work Groundwork and FoodCorps have been doing since 2016, beginning with Boyne Falls Public Schools and represents a significant step towards creating a sustainable, locally focused food system in schools.