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Three Minnesota School districts have been named a 2023 Minnesota Grown Farm to School District of the Year by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Minnesota Grown Program. This first-ever statewide contest recognizes schools for their exceptional efforts to serve and promote foods grown in the state to their students.

The three districts receiving this year’s honors include:

• District of the Year: Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
• Rising Star: Glacial Hills Elementary (Starbuck, Minnesota)
• People’s Choice: Hutchinson Public Schools

“We thank these school districts and their employees for their hard work, creativity, and leadership in serving and celebrating locally grown foods in schools,” said MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen. “Our students, farmers, and communities all benefit when we see Minnesota Grown on the school menu.”  

The Minnesota Grown Farm to School District of the Year Contest celebrates school districts for their work to increase access to Minnesota Grown foods, teach about and celebrate local agriculture, and support Minnesota producers. Judging was based on several factors, including the variety of local foods offered in school meals, the number of producers the districts buy from, and activities they do to promote and teach about local foods. Judges also looked at how the districts celebrated Minnesota Grown foods and producers during National Farm to School Month in October.

The District of the Year award recognizes one district that is doing outstanding work to serve Minnesota Grown food and promote Minnesota agriculture and producers, while the Rising Star category recognizes a district that recently started its Farm to School program and has made significant progress in a short time. People’s Choice was determined through social media voting via the Minnesota Grown Facebook page.

“Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools maintains a year-round commitment to local food purchasing and menu development,” said Krissy McIntyre, the district’s assistant director of child nutrition services. “This commitment extends far beyond Farm to School Month, showcasing our dedication to supporting Minnesota agriculture and providing students with nutritious, locally sourced meals. Currently, we incorporate local food items from 12 Minnesota farms and producers, five of which are new to us this school year. Our goal as a department is to continue to nurture our current relationships as well as forge new partnerships.”

MDA staff will visit Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools and the two other winning districts to present the awards in-person this winter. Each winner will receive a commemorative plaque, exclusive rights to a “Minnesota Grown Farm to School District of the Year 2023” logo, and public recognition for their Farm to School commitment and leadership. The District of the Year winner will also receive an on-site culinary training for a group of food service staff.

This inaugural Minnesota Grown Farm to School District of the Year Contest was supported by a USDA Farm to School Grant received by the MDA and the Minnesota Farm to School Leadership Team. The contest will continue to be offered annually. Further information about how to participate can be found on the contest webpage.

The Minnesota Grown Program is a statewide partnership between the MDA and Minnesota producers of specialty crops and livestock. It was created over 35 years ago by specialty crop growers to differentiate their produce from produce grown elsewhere.

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

Thirteen Minnesota educators looking to provide more agricultural experiences for their students have received grant funding from Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom (MAITC).

MAITC has awarded each educator with an Agricultural Literacy Grant, worth up to $500 each. This annual grant opportunity is designed to fund projects that support agriculture and food systems education efforts from kindergarten to high school across the state.

Topics that will be explored through this year’s projects include agricultural careers, aquaponics, and the farm-to-fork process.

MAITC is a partnership between the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the MAITC Foundation that seeks to increase agricultural literacy through K-12 education. For more information about the Ag Literacy Grants and other ag education resources, visit the MAITC website.
 

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Media Contact
Logan Schumacher, MDA Communications
651-201-6193
Logan.Schumacher@state.mn.us

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) in Morrison County for the first time. There are now 46 counties in the state, including Morrison, with EAB.

A suspected EAB infestation was reported at a campground in Genola, MN. EAB larvae was later found, and samples were collected by MDA staff. Federal identification confirmed the samples as emerald ash borer. MDA staff also surveyed other areas in Morrison County and found EAB near Little Falls, MN.

EAB was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009. The insect larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this. Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer. Also, EAB tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.

Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Morrison County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine of the county. The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.

The MDA issues quarantines for all areas known to have EAB to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.

A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Morrison County will be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

Emerald Ash Borer Virtual Informational Meeting:
December 13, 2023
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Register at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab

The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add Morrison County’s emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine. The MDA is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through January 16, 2024, and recommends adopting the quarantine on January 19, 2024. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

Comments can be made during the virtual meeting or by contacting:

Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55155
Kimberly.TCremers@state.mn.us

There is more EAB information on the MDA website.

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Media Contact
Brittany Raveill, MDA Communications
651-201-6131
Brittany.Raveill@state.mn.us