09/30/2026
September 30, 2026
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are happy to announce that Baraga Schools was selected by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to participate in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
A fresh fruit or vegetable snack will be offered to your student two times per week, until the grant funds are depleted. These snacks will be served early afternoon on Tuesday and Thursday for students in grades K-6th.
The goals of this grant program are to:
• Create healthier school environments by offering healthy choices.
• Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience.
• Increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Make a difference in children’s diets to impact their current and future health.
You can support your student’s efforts to increase their fruit and vegetable consumption in several ways. For instance:
• Take your student grocery shopping and allow them to pick a new fruit or vegetable to try.
• Keep fruits and vegetables visible by placing a fruit basket on the kitchen counter.
• Set a positive example by regularly enjoying fruits and veggies yourself.
• Involve your student in meal planning by letting them choose which fruits and vegetables will be served in meals at home.
• Visit a local farmers’ market to explore seasonal produce together.
If you have questions, please contact me at [email protected] or (906) 353-6664.
Sincerely,
Michele Velmer
Food Service Director
Nondiscrimination Statement for USDA Child Nutrition Programs
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, s*x (including gender identity and s*xual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
[email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
