Monday, September 29, 2025
Announcements from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Bureau of School Nutrition
- Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Bureau of School Nutrition (BSN)
- Other Updates and Information
Updates from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Bureau of School Nutrition (BSN)
Get Ready for Farm to School (F2S) Month!
October is National Farm to School Month, celebrating food education, school gardens, and healthy, local foods for kids! Anyone can celebrate - schools, early care and education sites, farms, communities, etc.! Celebrate by planning a fun event (like an Apple Crunch -see more below), spreading the word about your F2S program via social media (use #F2SMonth and #farmtoschool), newsletters or signage, or explore new resources like Harvest of the Month. Don’t forget to share your activities with us at DPIF2S@dpi.wi.gov!
October 2025 Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month Proclamation
The State of Wisconsin joins the Wisconsin Departments of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and DPI, along with kids, families, educators, and schools across the state, in expressing appreciation for local farmers, resilient and thriving local food systems, and school nutrition professions.
Great Apple Crunch
The Great Apple Crunch encourages healthy eating and supports Farm to School and other local food purchasing initiatives throughout the Midwest. It is an opportunity for K-12 schools, early care and education sites, hospitals, colleges and universities, farms, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations, local businesses, groups, and even households to “crunch” into a locally- sourced, Wisconsin apple. Held annually during F2S month in October, this year’s event will take place Thursday, October 9, 2025. Register Today!
NEW: Wisconsin Local Food Day!
Join us in honoring Wisconsin agriculture by participating in the inaugural Wisconsin Local Food Day! While the official celebration takes place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, participants are encouraged to take part anytime throughout November.
This year’s featured food is Wisconsin’s state fruit – the cranberry! It's the perfect time to highlight the richness of our local harvest by:
- Showcasing cranberry-infused dishes in school meals;
- Incorporating fun and informative lessons about Wisconsin’s cranberry-growing industry; or
- Teaching about the many health benefits of the local cranberry.
Register your Event to receive FREE, cranberry-scented scratch and sniff stickers and to be entered into a raffle to win a copy of Time for Cranberries by Lisl Detlefsen!
Celebrating a Successful First Year of the Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program!
Congratulations to the schools that completed the inaugural year of the Wisconsin Farm to School Recognition Program! This program was created to celebrate and recognize the incredible work schools are doing to advance Farm to School efforts across the state. Schools earn a level of recognition by completing activities in the three core elements of Farm to School (local procurement, school gardening, and education). They also promote their efforts to students, staff, and the wider community and form partnerships to help sustain their work. At the highest levels, schools go even further by developing sustainability plans and mentoring other schools on their farm to school journeys. We’re thrilled to celebrate the achievements of these dedicated schools who are growing healthier communities through farm to school.
Congratulations to the following schools:
- Broccoli Sprout: Spring Valley High School (Spring Valley School District)
- Broccoli Seedling: Prescott High School (Prescott School District), Summit View Elementary School (Waukesha School District), Winnequah Elementary School (Monona Grove School District)
- Broccoli Floret: Hawthorne Elementary School (Waukesha School District), River View Middle School (Kaukauna School District)
- Broccoli Crown: Granite Ridge School (Monona Grove School District), Taylor Prairie School (Monona Grove School District), De Pere High School (De Pere School District)
- Broccoli Flowering: St. John Lutheran School, Heritage Elementary School (De Pere School District), Foxview Intermediate School (De Pere School District), Dickinson Elementary School (De Pere School District), Altmayer Elementary School (De Pere School District), Ashwaubenon High School (Ashwaubenon School District)
Register your School to participate in this year’s program. Prizes will be given at each level. A kick-off Informational Webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 30 at 1:30-2:30 PM.
National School Lunch Week (NSLW)
Mark your calendars, as National School Lunch Week is just around the corner and will be held the week of October 13-17, 2025! Now is the perfect time to start planning a week full of global tastes, educational fun, and lunchroom excitement!
Visit the NSLP Website to learn more and access a variety of resources.
Other Updates and Information
Madison Area Master Gardeners Association (MAMGA) Garden Grants
The Madison Area Master Gardeners Association is accepting applications for 2026 gardening grants. Nonprofit organizations in Dane County, such as community groups and school PTOs, may apply for up to $500 between September 15 and December 1, 2025.
All applicants must be sponsored by an active MAMGA member. For help finding a MAMGA sponsor, please email grants@mamgawi.org.
Upcoming Institute of Child Nutrition Virtual Trainings
October sessions are designed to strengthen your knowledge and skills in child nutrition programs.
Identifying Low-Sodium Food Products and Menu Planning Strategies
Tuesday, October 7. 2025
9 –1:00 PM CST
Staff Training and Engagement for Sodium Reduction Success
Thursday, October 16, 2025
1-3:00 PM CST
Upcoming Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition Webinar: Making Time for Scratch Cooking: Operational Efficiencies and Strategies to Streamline Food Production in School Meals
Thursday, October 2, 2025
2-3:00 PM CST
Finding time for scratch and speed-scratch cooking can be a challenge, but with the right strategies, it becomes much more manageable. In this engaging webinar, the Georgia Department of Education’s School Nutrition Culinary Specialists will share practical operational efficiencies that support incorporating scratch and speed-scratch recipes into school meal programs. Participants will gain practical strategies to improve workflow, maintain meal quality, and streamline food production in ways that save both time and resources.
Learning Objective(s):
- Identify operational efficiencies that support incorporating scratch and speed-scratch cooking into school meal programs.
- Recall practical strategies to improve workflow and maintain meal quality while streamlining food production.
SNA Key Area(s): 1 – Nutrition, 2 – Operations
USDA Professional Standards Code(s): 1100 – Menu Planning, 2100 – Food Production