Join the farmer and textile artist Pricilla Carbajal of Vida Farms for a hands-on demonstration of dyeing fabric using locally grown flowers like marigolds!

This workshop is FREE and will be in spanish and english. 

Join UTRGV Plant pathologist Robin Choudhury to learn pest management basics including: 

• Common pest issues in the RGV

• Cost effective management strategies for pests and diseases

This workshop is FREE and will be in spanish and english

Fresh produce vendors and farmers are invited to engage with area school nutrition programs!

Register to: Exhibit your various fresh produce/crops; Provide samples to participants; Share information regarding your farms.

All fresh produce items must be grown and processed in Texas. CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM Fresh Produce Initiative Expo

March 23, 2023: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Region One ESC Conference Center

Hidalgo County Room

1900 W. Schunior St., Edinburg, TX 78541

Workshop #266277

www.esc1.net/staffdevelopment

Join the UTRGV Agroecology program at The Hub to learn about:

• basic principles of on-farm food safety during growth, harvest, washing, and storage

• requirements to sell "cottage food" produced in a home kitchen

This event is free and both in spanish and english. 

Attendees will receive a free voucher for food handler's certification. 

Bringing Child Nutrition Programs (K12) and local fresh produce growers/farmers together to explore how we can overcome challenges from both stakeholder groups. We will review the survey results from the Child Nutrition Programs and the local fresh produce growers/farmers to identify opportunities and obstacles, followed by discussion on common attributes for program success and potential solutions for common barriers.

Audience: Fresh produce vendors and CNP-South Texas Cooperative members.

The Farm to school market will have free fruits & vegetables provided by the RGV Food Bank (1000 bags), free petting zoo, community members (Local farmers, City, P&R, Universities) and student music performances (Choir, mariachi, band, conjunto). The goal of the market is to bring awareness to the importance of growing, buying and eating local fruits and vegetables, especially in schools. November 18 4:30pm to 7:30pm at PSJA Central Kitchen complex 800 s Stewart Rd San Juan 78589

Vendors, email habraham.lopez@psjaisd.us to reserve a table. General public is welcome without a reservation.

Join us in for a hybrid-discussion on linking local growers to local school districts as one step towards sustainable and equitable food systems at scale. Panelists include Region One Education Service Center, Triple J Organics, The Common Market food hub, and Mission CISD.

Join the UTRGV Sustainable Agriculture team to learn about growing more food with less water! Topics include drip irrigation design and installation, rainwater harvesting systems, and building drought resilience. Workshop will be in English and Spanish

Registration is required for this free Zoom webinar. Register here.

A recording of this webinar will be made available.

Want to learn more about Farm to School and ECE local food incentive programs operating across the country? Tune in to this webinar for a review of different designs of statewide incentive programs explored in a recent report released on the subject, and learn about support available for policy advocacy and education. Results from a national survey will also be shared, highlighting the educational needs and values of stakeholders interested in learning more about procurement incentives. Local food incentive programs provide additional money to school and ECE child nutrition programs with the intention to stimulate increased purchasing of local foods. High interest in and increased adoption of these programs call for more communication among stakeholders. This webinar is the first in a forthcoming series on how local food incentive programs are implemented that will feature the people who run, evaluate, and support them. Speakers include: 

• Cassandra Bull, Policy Intern, National Farm to School Network, former Environmental Research Fellow at the Tufts University Institute of the Environment, and author of Statewide Farm to School Procurement Incentives: Design Thinking & Analysis of the National Policy Landscape

• Karen Spangler, Policy Director, National Farm to School Network

• Colleen Matts, Director, Farm to Institution Programs, Michigan State University Center for Regional Food Systems

Learn more about how you can conduct business with the Region One Education Service Center & its cooperative partners. Be part of a pre-approved vendor list servicing 100+ school systems. Register at www.esc1.net/staffdevelopment workshop #240024