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Grants to California School Food Authorities to Provide Free Healthy Snacks to Students

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Grant


Grant Writers
Agency
State
GrantWatch ID#
168676
Funding Source
California Department of Education
Nutrition Services Division (NSD)
Array ( )
Geographic Focus
USA: California
Important Dates
Deadline: 03/03/23 4:00 PM Save
Grant Description
Grants to California school food authorities on behalf of elementary schools to provide students with fresh produce as free snacks outside of mealtime. The program is intended to increase children's consumption of healthy, unprocessed fruits and vegetables, introduce them to new and different varieties, improve their present and future health, and promote nutrition education. The goal of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is to improve healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices. The program is seen as an important catalyst for change in efforts to combat childhood obesity and by helping children learn more healthful eating habits.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) will grant funds to eligible elementary school sites to provide students with a variety of free, fresh fruit and vegetable snacks during the school day as a supplement to, and not part of, the school breakfast and lunch programs (School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP)), and to teach students about good nutrition. 

To receive a grant, the school food authorities (SFA) must apply on behalf of their elementary schools. The selected elementary schools receive grant awards for the school year. With these funds, schools purchase additional fresh fruits and vegetables to serve free to students as a snack outside of normal meal service.

A complete set of grantee requirements are provided upon award of the grant in the FFVP Supplemental Grant Award Notification. A few of the key requirements are highlighted below:
  • 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 three 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 USDA guidelines
  • SFA must remain in good standing in the operation of all other federal CNPs. 

Allowable Items:

  • Whole or sliced fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Condiments: lemons, limes, or chili powder can be used as a condiment to be served with vegetables
  • Vegetable dips are allowed if they are low-fat, yogurt-based, or other low-fat or fat-free (nonfat) dips
    • All dip serving sizes cannot exceed 1 to 2 tablespoons (2 ounces)
    • Please note that low-fat or non-fat hummus, peanut butter, and sun butter may only be served with vegetables once a month due to the high fat content
  • Fresh vegetables that are cooked must be limited to once a week and served only as part of a nutrition education lesson
Full Grant Text RFP
Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the FFVP, an agency must be a school food authority (SFA). To receive a grant, the SFAs must apply on behalf of their elementary schools.

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 elementary school sites
- Direct-funded charter elementary 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. An elementary school is defined as:
- A school that contains one or more grades pre-kindergarten to fourth, and no grade higher than eighth, or
- A school that contains one or more grades fifth to sixth only
An elementary school includes the following grade spans:
Pre-K–K, Pre-K–1, Pre-K–2, Pre-K–3, Pre-K–4, Pre-K–5, Pre-K–6, Pre-K–7, Pre-K–8
1–1, 1–2, 1–3, 1–4, 1–5, 1–6, 1–7, 1–8
2–2, 2–3, 2–4, 2–5, 2–6, 2–7, 2–8
3–3, 3–4, 3–5, 3–6, 3–7, 3–8
4–4, 4–5, 4–6, 4–7
5–5, 5–6
6–6
- 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)
Ineligible
Unallowable items:
- Processed or preserved fruits and vegetables (i.e., canned, frozen, vacuum-packed, or dried)
- Fruit leather or jellied fruit
- Dips for fruit or cottage cheese
- Fruit or vegetable juice
- Smoothies
- Trail mixes or nuts
- Fruit/vegetable pizza
- Fruit that has been injected with flavorings
- Carbonated fruit
- Most nonfood items, except those allowed under supplies and administrative operational costs
Pre-Application Information
The FFVP grant applications must be completed and submitted online and are due no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023.

Important Dates:
- Date Application Available: January 13, 2023
- Due Date: March 3, 2023
- Expected Notification Date: June 30, 2023

Process: To receive a grant, the school food authorities (SFA) must apply on behalf of their elementary schools. The selected elementary schools receive grant awards for the school year. With these funds, schools purchase additional fresh fruits and vegetables to serve free to students as a snack outside of normal meal service.

The FFVP funding is contingent upon the USDA and the amount the CDE receives. Therefore, the CDE adjusts the award per student in the first and second allocations for each school year accordingly.

All eligible school food authorities (SFA) must submit a separate online application for each elementary school interested in applying for the FFVP grant. This includes both current FFVP grantees and new applicants.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a reimbursement grant program.

For further information about the program: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/caffvp.asp?tabsection=0

RFA: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r9/ffvp23rfa.asp

Application instructions: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r9/ffvpinstructions23.asp
Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$16,000,000
Estimated Size of Grant
The amount of the individual school grant will depend on the total enrollment of the schools participating in the program. The selected elementary schools receive grant awards of $50–$75 per student for the school year.
Term of Contract
The grant period is July 1 through June 30 of each school year.
Contact Information
To apply online: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/sf/index.aspx

Program contact: FFVP@cde.ca.gov

Nutrition Services Division
Phone: 916-445-0850
Fax: 916-319-0122
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