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Monthly Newsletter: January 2023
Universal Meals Legislation Are Introduced in Almost Half of All States
As of January 19, at least 23 states and the District of Columbia have introduced policies to advance free, healthy school meals for all students! That’s nearly half of all states, representing 52% of all students under 18. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government allowed schools to provide free meals to all children as a temporary emergency measure. Last legislative cycle, at least 14 states recognized the beneficial impacts of universal meals and introduced legislation to continue serving free meals after federal support ended in June 2022.
Since the start of the new year, state-level universal meals policies are again sweeping the nation. Nine states are new to introduce legislation and two states have re-introduced universal meals this legislative cycle.
Want to find out more? View an updated list of 2023 universal meals legislation (p.4), which contains links to legislation or other information. This recent report summarizes how universal meals policies intersect with policies to support local and values-aligned procurement.
Wondering how to get involved in your state? View this list of 2023 State Coalitions for Universal Meals to support healthy school meals for all in your community.
Introducing NFSN's Interactive State Policy Tracker Map
We are excited to introduce this legislative cycle’s State Policy Tracker Map resource to our network. NFSN’s Policy Team originally launched a similar map last spring, and have created a new map that tracks only policies introduced during the current legislative session, including newly introduced farm to school/farm to ECE legislation, universal meals and more. This map will be updated each week.
This tool helps advance our shared values, as it displays state bills in the following areas:
- Expanding Access for All Kids
- Farm to School/Farm to ECE
- Values-Aligned Procurement and Equitable Producer Support
- Scratch Cooking, School Wellness, and Labor
Our team is tracking policies as they are introduced, but we still need your help to populate this tool! If you are aware of a state bill regarding farm to school activities, local procurement or producer support, universal meals, or school wellness policies and would like for it to be included on this map, please fill out this form here.
Webinar Highlight: Farm to ECE Continues to Foster Bright Futures for Children & Communities
February 9, 11:00 AM PST / 2:00 PM EST
National Farm to School Network and Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems (MSU CRFS) are excited to offer an upcoming free webinar on Thursday, February 9. In 2021, NFSN and MSU CRFS surveyed early care and education providers across the country to better understand current initiatives, motivations and challenges in applying farm to ECE activities in early care and education settings. Learn more about the survey and how you can apply the findings and recommendations in your own work. Registration is required. A recording will be shared after the live event.
NFSN Staff Updates
We are thrilled to welcome our new Communications Intern, Jillian Muñoz, and reintroduce David Hutabarat, who is transitioning into our Partnerships Director. Here's a little more from each of them:
We also bid a warm farewell to Jasmin Edrington, NFSN's Programs Fellow from April 2022 through January 2023. Jasmin supported NFSN's programming, network engagement, and story-telling efforts. She was essential in implementing a recently developed workflow management in welcoming and onboarding new partners in the network. Jasmin also assisted greatly in the GroMoreGood Hydroponics project, which was a collaboration among NFSN, Scotts Miracle Gro Foundation, KidsGardening, and state-based farm to school partners. Jasmin brought her passion and energy for working in the food system during her time at NFSN. The NFSN team is thrilled to see her continue to pursue her goals as she studies abroad in Kenya this spring semester!
Lastly, congratulations to our wonderful staff, Sophia Riemer for her recent promotion to Program Manager and to Jiyoon Chon for her promotion to Communications Manager! You can find and contact all of our current staff here.
Recent Highlights
Opinion: How Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All Bill Supports Farmers and Students"Let's do our work now to shift power. We need to create innovative solutions that can have a huge benefit now and in the long run. Initiatives such as Healthy Meals for All are one step forward in the right direction." —Roberto Meza. A first-gen farmer, local food advocate, and CEO of East Denver Food Hub, Roberto Meza applauds the Healthy Meals for All initiative in Colorado. Read the full blog. |
Resource: Farm to ECE: a Year in ReviewWe’ve gathered all of the farm to ECE resources developed in 2022 by the National Farm to School Network in one place. If you’ve developed farm to ECE resources this year and would like to share them with the farm to ECE community, please send them to sophia@farmtoschool.org. Visit the full resource here. |
