The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) exposes children to a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the hope that they will develop healthy eating habits. Elementary schools that have greater than 50% eligible free and reduced lunch students are eligible to apply yearly for this program. Fresh fruits and vegetables are served during the school day in a variety of settings on a daily basis. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages schools to offer fresh fruits and vegetables a minimum of twice a week. FFVP grant funds cannot be utilized as part of the National School Breakfast or National School Lunch Program. Schools will receive funding of $50-75 per student based on total enrollment of schools participating in the program.

To be eligible for the FFVP, an agency must be a school food authority (SFA). According to Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR), Section 210.2, an SFA is defined as the governing body which is responsible for the administration of one or more schools and has the legal authority to operate the program therein or be otherwise approved by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to operate the program.

The following are considered SFAs and are eligible to apply for an FFVP grant:

• School districts and county offices of education on behalf of their school sites
• Direct-funded charter schools
• Private elementary schools participating in the NSLP if 50 percent or more of their students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals
• Residential child care institutions operating an elementary school during the day and participating in the NSLP

To receive an FFVP grant, a school must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Be an elementary school
• Operate the NSLP
• Have 50 percent or more of the student enrollment eligible for free and reduced-price meals—priority is given to SFAs with the highest percentage
• Provide an implementation plan describing the snack service time and frequency, nutrition education, and collaborative partnerships
• Have documented support of the school food service manager, principal, and district superintendent
• Submit a grant application package by the deadline
• Be in good standing with the operation of all other federal child nutrition programs (CNP)

Schools have the flexibility to develop their own implementation plan and choose the type of produce, number of days a week, and times during the day to provide the free fresh fruit or vegetable snacks to their students. Schools are also encouraged to develop partnerships to help implement the program, such as with local universities, extension services, farmers markets, and local growers and grocers.

Schools are required to adhere to the following:

• Make free fresh fruits and vegetables available during the school day as a snack to all enrolled children outside of NSLP and SBP operation
• Offer the FFVP snack a minimum of two times per week
• Offer nutrition education at least one time per week as part of the FFVP
• Follow all food safety requirements and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point guidance
• Widely publicize the availability of fresh fruit and vegetable snacks within the school
• Implement the FFVP in accordance with the most recent guidelines by the USDA issued at USDA FFVP Handbook for Schools

In addition, the SFA must remain in good standing in the operation of all other federal CNPs. Good standing means an SFA is not documented as being seriously deficient in managing any USDA CNP. The SFA cannot have outstanding administrative or program findings that document violations of the requirements of any CNP (7 CFR, sections 211.10[c], 226.6[c][3][ii], 225.11[c], and 210.24; and the USDA FFVP Handbook for Schools, December 2010, pages 4–5).

The FFVP is a reimbursement grant; therefore, grantees must expend their own funds and then submit a claim for reimbursement to the State Agency. SFAs participating in the FFVP submit monthly reimbursement claim forms to the State Agency for review and approval. The Nutrition Services Division reimburses the SFA for the fresh fruit and vegetable, operational, and administrative costs to implement the program. Upon receipt of a claim, the Nutrition Services Division will process the claim within ~45 calendar days.