The NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (NHDAMF) will collaborate with NH Farm to School (NHF2S) and its farm, food hub, and school district partners to procure local commodity foods for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). NH has 130 School Districts that participate in the NSLP. Of the 130 school districts 44 school districts have over 40% of their student population who qualify for free and reduced meals, indicating a high percent of poverty in the community.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on its procedures related to the use of instrument technology in the official meat grading program. The proposed changes outline several key enhancements to ensure USDA grading is delivered with the highest levels of consistency and accuracy.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (OSCNP) is working to create a robust and sustainable farm to school network throughout the state. The OSCNP provides leadership and guidance to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to facilitate the inclusion of local foods into school meals programs (e.g., National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program).

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing a rule to establish the salable quantities of Scotch and Native spearmint oil produced in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Utah that handlers may purchase from producers, or handle on their behalf, during the 2023-2024 marketing year.

Summary Information

• Meeting details, presentations, and voting summary

NOSB

• Resolution on Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) (pdf)

Certification, Accreditation, and Compliance (CACS)

• December 28, 2023 (pdf)
• December 21, 2023 (pdf)
• December 14, 2023 (pdf)
• December 7, 2023 (pdf)
• November 30, 2023 (pdf)
• November 23, 2023 (pdf)

Docket Number: AMS-SC-22-0090
Dates: The FVIAC will meet via webinar (virtually) on January 25, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Written public comments will be accepted by 11:59 p.m. ET on January 11, 2023

Summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) will hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is organizing the meeting, which is open to the public.

Register in advance for the virtual FVIAC meeting
Meeting ID: 161 033 8300

Registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on how to join the meeting.

New England Food for Schools is a program the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in partnership with Massachusetts Farm to School has proposed to increase the capacity for School Food Authorities (SFAs) administering the National School Lunch Program to procure local unprocessed or minimally processed foods for service in school meals and snacks. Through this program, funds will be awarded to SFAs to purchase from producers, including but not limited to farmers, food hubs, and fishermen, within a 400-mile radius.

The Utah Department of Health proposes to use Local Food Purchase Assistance funds to establish a program that enables the purchase of local food products from disadvantaged farmers across  the state and distribution of those products to underserved communities. This program will support local organizations to foster relationships with local producers and build capacity for continuing purchases and distribution.