Students at John W. Miles Elementary School (Erlanger-Elsmere Independent) select from fruits and vegetables during lunch April 26, 2010. Eligible elementary schools may receive funding through grants for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. File photo by Amy Wallot

Elementary school students can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), a federal program designed to increase children’s consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, to expose those students to new fruits and vegetables, to improve healthy eating habits and to help elementary schools create healthier school food environments.

At a minimum of $50 per student over the course of the year, approximately 53,083 students can be served through the program.

Eligible elementary schools may fill out grant applications to receive program funding. Kentucky received $2.6 million in FFVP funding for the 2011-12 school year. The criteria for the grants is set by Section 19(d) of the National School Lunch Act:

• To the maximum extent possible, highest priority will be given to schools with the highest proportion of children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
• Schools must be elementary schools or have the ability to separate out elementary school students in a K-12 program.
• Schools must operate the National School Lunch Program.
• Schools must have 50 percent or more of their students eligible for free/reduced-price meals.

Applications for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program grant must provide the following:

• a certification of support signed by the school food service manager, the school principal, and the district superintendent or equivalent positions as determined by the school
• the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price school lunches
• a plan for implementation of the program, including efforts to integrate the FFVP with other efforts to either promote sound health and nutrition, reduce overweight and obesity, or promote physical activity

As part of the program, schools are encouraged to establish partnerships at the local level with grocers, health departments or extension services.

The grant application deadline is 4 p.m. ET Friday, May 13. The application is available at Competitive Grants from KDE. School district officials are encouraged to download the application, complete and submit the paperwork as per the instructions in the Request for Application, and provide the appropriate signatures. Multiple schools from the same district may apply, although not all are guaranteed to be chosen. Grants will be awarded this summer for use in the 2011-12 school year.

During the 2010-11 school year, 90 Kentucky elementary schools received FFVP grants. (See a list of schools here.)

More information is available on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Website at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/ffvp/FFVPResources.htm.