The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Indiana’s Perspective on the Free Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), is one of several Child Nutrition Programs sponsored through The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (which amended the Richard C. Russell National School Lunch Act) that promotes healthy eating at school. Through the FFVP, participating schools offer and promote free fresh fruits and vegetables and dried fruit throughout the school day. It has been a popular and successful means for increasing student exposure to fresh produce, and increasing student consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Moving towards improving student health and achievement, this is one step forward and complements the HealthierUS initiative.

In 2002, President Bush launched the HealthierUS initiative by directing all Federal Departments to collectively develop plans to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. Components of the initiative include participating in daily physical activity, eating a healthy diet, getting preventive screenings and making healthy choices. At the same time, USDA launched an initiative to improve student intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Titled the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP), this program evolved with the passing of the 2002 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill provided $6 million for this program during the 2002-2003 school year. Twenty-five schools in each of four states (Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio) plus seven Zuni Reservation schools in New Mexico were selected to participate in the pilot. A variety of schools were represented based on grade level, enrollment, geographic location and other factors. An evaluation of the pilot concluded the program was popular with students and administrators, improved student eating habits, raised student preference for and awareness of a variety of fruits and vegetables, and showed that schools desired to continue the program if funding was available.

In June, 2004, The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act authorized the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) as a permanent program. Effective Oct. 1, 2004, $9 million was allocated to the original pilot states with expansion of the program to three new states and two Indian tribal organizations, including one or more tribes belonging to the Intertribal Council of Arizona and the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Selection of the participating schools was based on the same criteria as the pilot program schools.

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006, signed November 10, 2005, Public Law 109-97 appropriated $6,000,000 to further expand the FFVP to six additional States, with 25 schools in each state. The FFVP currently operates in 375 schools in 14 States and 3 Indian Tribal Organizations.

This program is seen as an important catalyst for change in efforts to combat childhood obesity by helping children learn more healthful eating habits. The FFVP introduces school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have had the opportunity to sample.