SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today 25 grantees will share $184,100 in Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) grants. For the list of grantees, please visit Funding Results: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

"The old adage 'eat your vegetables' will not be coming from just your parents anymore," said O'Connell. "Kids need to eat nutritious food and be physically active because these are factors that help them succeed academically. Under this exciting new program, the grantees will work to find innovative ways to challenge students to eat more fruits and vegetables, like offering the free food through kiosks, vending machines, or bowls of pineapple and strawberries in the classroom." 

The FFVP is a federal program the U.S. Department of Agriculture first developed in 2002 as a pilot project. In California, the FFVP is a new program administered through the California Department of Education. The program provides a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables to all students at school. This food is provided as a supplement to (and not part of) the school breakfast and school lunch programs

The FFVP is designed to create healthier school environments by providing good food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children eat, increasing their consumption of healthier foods, teaching students about good nutrition, and making a difference in their diets to improve their present and future health.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-161) provided $9.9 million that is being used to establish the program in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. California received a starting appropriation of $184,100 for 25 school grantees. The 2008 Farm Bill will increase California's grant to $2.5 million in October 2008 to fund both existing and any new FFVP grantees at a level of around $50-$55 per student during the school year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the 2008 Farm Bill will further increase California's grant amount over the next four years to $3.9 million in July 2009, $6.15 million in July 2010, and $9 million in July 2011 to support continued growth of the number of elementary schools participating in the program.

"Obtaining funding for this effective program is the result of a concerted team effort," said O'Connell. "Because the program's fresh fruit and vegetables support good nutrition, public health, and agriculture, we've worked with Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshé and Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura to make the case for expanding the program to California," said O'Connell. "I also want to thank the Congressional delegation for their assistance."

Eligible applicants in this round of funding included local educational agencies and charter schools. Applicants were required to be participants in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, have 50 percent or more of their students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and participate in the California Department of Education's "Shaping Health As Partners in Education" program. The grantees competed for the awards based on these criteria that also took into account the school size, geographic location, and representation of urban, rural, and suburban school sites. 

"Funding for this program is being held up by the current state budget crisis," O'Connell said. "The sooner a budget can be passed, the sooner we can reimburse schools so they can start offering these nutritious options to improve student health and help battle against the silent epidemic of childhood obesity. I will continue to work with the state Legislature and the Governor to find a budget compromise that meets the needs of our students and all Californians."

For more information about the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program, please visit Past Funding Profile (ID 1305): Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.