"Weight of the Nation" film screening

May 17th, 2012

6 to 7:30 p.m.

Ochsner Medical Center Auditorium (Monroe Hall), 1514 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson.

Parts to be screened: “Children in Crisis” profiles four children and their families on the journey of becoming healthier. The segment also looks at issues and initiatives related to food and physical education in schools, as well as attempts to set up nutrition standards for foods marketed to children.

The event will include introductory remarks by Charlotte Parent, Deputy Director of the New Orleans Health Department.

Group discussion will be held afterward, led by Ochsner pediatricians Dr. Samira Brown and Dr. Robert Cunningham, Interim Chairman, Department of Pediatrics and Section Head, Pediatric Nephrology/Hypertension.

Free parking is available at the Ochsner garage. Snacks will also be provided.

Questions? Contact Naomi King at nking2@tulane.edu.

Farm-to-School grants webinar

May 18th, 2012

From the U.S. Department of Agricutlure
The USDA Farm to School Team has a few updates related to the farm to school grants to share with you. You’ll find all of the information listed below on our website as well.

Webinars
On Tuesday, May 15, 3:00 pm EST (note: this is a time change), we will offer our Implementation grants webinar. On Thursday, May 17, 1:00 pm EST, we will offer our Planning grants webinar. Both webinars will be presented by Deborah Kane, National Farm to School Director, FNS, and Greg Walton, Grants Management Specialist, FNS. The webinar will help to explain to interested applicants the details of the grant, and will include a brief Q and A session. Interested parties may submit questions ahead of time via the registration link below. These sessions will all be recorded and posted on the Food and Nutrition Service website shortly following the sessions.
YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.
To register for the webinars, please visit http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g4f5f4. Should you have any questions, please email Deborah Kane at Deborah.kane@fns.usda.gov or Greg Walton at farm2school2013@fns.usda.gov.

To recap:
Tuesday, May 15, 3:00 pm EST: Implementation Grant webinar
Thursday, May 17, 1:00 pm EST: Planning Grant webinar
Register for one or both webinars: http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/17fb9g4f5f4
Questions?: Deborah.kane@fns.usda.gov or farm2school2013@fns.usda.gov or submit them to the webinar via the registration link.

Eat Local Challenge 2012

June 1st, 2012

The month of June

Within 200 miles of New Orleans

Registration is going on now for the second annual Eat Local Challenge in New Orleans.

Beginning Wednesday, June 1, all participants, or locavores, will be dared to limit their diet only to food grown, raised, or caught within 200 miles of New Orleans. Sources include community gardens or start your own garden; farmers’ markets, U-Pick farms, and roadside stands; local produce and locally produced foods at grocery stores; restaurants participating in the challenge with 100% locavore approved menu options

And why be a locavore, exactly? The short list: Food that is transported long distances is not as fresh. Fresh food is healthier, retaining more of its nutrients. Lots of fuel is used to transport food across the country and from other countries. This create a large carbon footprint. Eating locally helps support local farmers and the local economy. Supporting local agriculture keeps more land in our area un-industrialized. Small, local farms generally use sustainable, symbiotic growing practices, which involve little or no use of pesticides, hormones, or routine antibiotics. These practices are better for the soil, for the animals, and for us. Small farms generally use more humane practices when raising animals for food.

Each locavore can choose between three levels of strictness – The Ultrastrict, The Bienville Rule, or The Wild Card. Locavores will be regulating themselves based on the honor system, and will be asked to check-in regularly. The challenge should be thought of as part scavenger hunt, part healthy lifestyle promoting and learning experience.

The Tulane Prevention Research Center will have a scavenger hunt clue for locavores to find on our website. So keep an eye out for details closer to the start of the challenge!

On your mark. Get set. Lettuce eat.

To sign up or learn more, visit www.nolalocavore.org.

Two grant opportunities for community development

June 5th, 2012

Applications due June 5, 2012 and 15, depending on which grant

1. Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Community Economic Development (CED) Projects
In coordination with the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), the CED program will provide up to $10 million of this funding to CDCs for CED projects located in food deserts and designed to improve access to healthy, affordable foods. HFFI is the first time the Federal government has coordinated its efforts to eliminate food deserts around the country. Together, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) and HHS have created the Healthy Food Financing Working Group (Working Group). CED funding may be used to provide technical and financial assistance in order to create sustainable new employment and business opportunities for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other low-income individuals whose income level does not exceed 125% of the Federal poverty level. Applications are due June 5. Funding Opportunity Number (FON): HHS-2012-ACF-OCS-EE-0274.

To get more information or apply, click here.

2. USDA Farm to School Grant Program
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) included an amendment to establish a Farm to School program in order to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. The USDA released the Request for Applications for the Farm to School Grant Program on April 17. Planning grants are expected to range from $20,000 – $45,000 and represent approximately 25% of the total awards, while implementation grants are expected to range from $65,000 – $100,000 and represent approximately 75% of the total awards. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.575. The Letter of Intent is due May 18, and Proposals are due June 15.
Application information, click here.

[Language for this grant opportunity came form the Delaware Coalition for Health Eating and Active Living.]