ATTENTION: Co-op
Directors; Principals; Superintendents; Child Nutrition Directors
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
(FFVP) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program which
provides reimbursement for fresh fruits and fresh vegetables served free to
elementary students during the school day, outside the lunch and breakfast
meals.
NOTE:
The fresh fruits and fresh vegetables served as part of this program may
not be served before or after school and may not be served at regular student
meal periods.
The Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education, Child Nutrition Unit (CNU) is accepting applications from elementary
schools that want to participate in the FFVP for School Year (SY) 2021-2022– pending approval of federal funding.
To be considered for this program, each
school in the district that desires the program must submit a completed
application. The application must be
received by CNU no later than 4:30 pm on Friday, April 30, 2021. Applications must
be emailed.
Submit (Scan and
email w/ required signatures) applications to:
ade.ffvpapp@ade.arkansas.gov
For renewal applicants, completing an
application will continue funding for SY 21-22 if the school is an elementary
school (K-8), has a 50% or greater free/reduced (F/R) percentage, submitted a complete
application, and does not have any significant issues that would constitute
ineligibility.
For new applicants, completing an
application does not guarantee funding for SY 21-22. Funding will be based on the
school’s F/R percentage, a complete application, and remaining funding after
renewal schools have received their grant award.
When
planning to submit an application, please keep the following in mind:
- Applications must be emailed.
- Late and incomplete applications will be disqualified.
- Applications without required signatures will not be considered.
- Applications will not be returned.
- Keep a copy of the application with original signatures for your files.
Goals of the FFVP are to:
- create healthier school environments by providing healthier food 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 present and future health.
School
selection criteria include:
- Must be an elementary school (USDA definition of elementary is any school with a combination of grades K-8).No Pre-School Program will be approved for SY 2021-2022, including those Pre-K programs that are part of an elementary school.
- Operate the National School Lunch Program.Schools must be in existence and successfully operate at least one of the USDA programs for one school year.
Submit an application for participation that meets all criteria.All interested schools should submit an application, even if they currently have the program.
- Must have 50% or more of the school’s students eligible for free/reduced price meals.
- Be chosen based on the percentage of free/reduced price students with the highest priority given to schools with the highest percentages of low-income students, to the maximum extent practicable.
Note:
Schools/districts with major audit or administrative review findings related to
the child nutrition programs will be disqualified.
This
grant is for the period October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. The level of
funding provided is based on October 1, 2020, official school enrollment at a
level ranging between $50-75 per student (as defined annually by CNU). Funding
is contingent upon receipt of federal funds by the CNU from USDA.
Use of funds
Funds are to be used primarily to purchase, prepare and distribute fresh fruits
and fresh vegetables that will be made available at no charge to all students
in the school at times other than lunch and/or breakfast. The program should be
structured so that the maximum benefits go to children. Selected schools will
submit a monthly FFVP Claim for Reimbursement to CNU as well as necessary
supporting documentation of expenses.
Allowable expenses
from this grant include:
- fresh fruits and fresh vegetables
- non-food supplies required to implement the program (such as napkins, paper plates, etc.)
- labor expenses for staff preparing, serving and cleaning up
- Up to 10% of the school's grant award may be used to pay administrative costs including documented expenses for planning and managing the paperwork required by the program and/or purchasing the produce and equipment necessary to implement the program
Funds may not be used for promotional
activities, to supplement the lunch or breakfast program, for nutrition
education materials and/or activities, or for indirect or other administrative
costs.
Expectations of participating schools
Because USDA is required to submit reports to Congress, FFVP schools will be
expected to cooperate in any evaluations and be able to provide information
about participation, purchases, costs and other information. A district’s Child
Nutrition Agreement will be amended to reflect any schools in the district that
are selected to participate in the FFVP program.
How to apply:
- Listen to SY 21-22 FFVP Funding Opportunity voiced-over PowerPoint.
- Read the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Handbook, dated December 2010 (Attachment C).Review grant requirements and “best practices” within the USDA Handbook for FFVP implementation ideas.
- Complete an Arkansas Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application SY 2021-2022 (Attachment A) for each elementary school applying for the program. Use the Instructions for Completing the Arkansas Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application (Attachment B) for guidance.
- Email completed applications to CNU by Friday, April 30, 2021.
Incomplete
or late applications will not be considered. Applications without required
signatures will not be considered.
Timeline:
April 30, 2021: Deadline for CNU to receive applications
August 2021: Notification
of Schools Awarded Grants for SY 2021-2022
September 2021: Required
FFVP Training for ALL SY 2021-2022 FFVP Schools. Date will be announced at
a later time.
For any questions, please contact Myia
McBride, FFVP Coordinator.
Please consider taking part in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program as another
way to help students develop lifelong healthful eating habits.
Attachments:
- Arkansas FFVP Application - School Year 2021-2022
- Instructions for Completing the Arkansas FFVP Application
- USDA FFVP Handbook, December 2010