Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program George Sneller Jeff
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program George Sneller, Jeff Booth, and Donna Parsons 1 10/23/2021
Availability of funds/grant agreement n When will the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) funds be available? n Funds were available on July 1. 2 10/23/2021
n What will be the duration of the grant period? n There will be two grant periods: n n July 2007 – September 2007 and October 2007 – June 2008 3 10/23/2021
Procedural Issues General When should the fruits and vegetables be made available? n n n Anytime during school day During meal service times During class in classrooms Between classes in hallways During nutrition education classroom activities Other times – whatever works best for the school. 4 10/23/2021
n Can the fruits/vegetables be provided at parent/teacher conferences? At other functions such as “Grandparents Day” or an evening or weekend program where most of the building's children gather but neighborhood children also attend? 5 10/23/2021
Yes n The function must be connected to a school activity in which the children who normally attend the school are involved. The FFVP cannot be operated only for adults. However, schools may offer a limited amount of fruits and vegetables at, for example, an evening parents’ meeting to introduce the FFVP to parents. Schools cannot use FFVP funds to purchase “gifts” such as fruit baskets that would be distributed to students’ families or to school personnel as a means to promote consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. 6 10/23/2021
Teachers Lounge n n Fruit and Vegetable Program funds shall not be used to provide fruits and vegetables in areas where students are not allowed. In other words: NO, NO for teacher’s lounge. 7 10/23/2021
n Can fruits and vegetables be offered after school? n Free fruits and vegetables may be offered after school under the FFVP in addition to the snack service of the National School Lunch Program as well as during school sponsored athletic programs, club meetings, and other activities. 8 10/23/2021
n n F & V funds cannot be expended to replace food items required for the USDA Afterschool Snack Program. In other words, if afterschool snacks are claimed for reimbursement under that program, F & V funds cannot be used. 9 10/23/2021
n There is a non-school-district sponsored Head Start program operating in a high school that was selected for the FFVP. Are the Head Start children eligible to participate in the FFVP? n Any child in the building during the time the FFVP is in daily operation may participate. These children would also be included in the enrollment figures. 10 10/23/2021
n May split session kindergarten classes in the Special Milk Program participate in the FFVP? n Yes. 11 10/23/2021
n Can teachers and school personnel take the produce offered? n The FFVP must be targeted to the students. However, teachers and school staff may consume the produce since they serve as models for behavior to encourage consumption of produce by students. 12 10/23/2021
n May more than one distribution technique be used in the same school? n Schools are encouraged to develop innovative and varied methods to offer the fruits and vegetables to students. Schools may want to have different methods based on the ages of the students, such as classroom distribution for younger students and hallway distribution for older students. 13 10/23/2021
n What may be done with leftovers? n Food purchased with FFVP funds should be used in the FFVP. Any leftovers should be recycled in accordance with board of health requirements. The first priority for leftovers is use in the FFVP. However, if leftovers cannot be easily used in the FFVP, they may be used in the meal programs or transferred to a homeless shelter in accordance with applicable board of health requirements. The FFVP funds cannot be used primarily for use in meal programs. This applies only to leftovers that may spoil if not consumed. 14 10/23/2021
n Can students take the fruits and vegetables out of the school (e. g. , on the bus, on the playground, home)? n Consistent with school policy, students may take the food out of the school. 15 10/23/2021
Foods n Must only fresh fruits be offered in the FFVP? n Schools may offer dried fruits as well as fresh fruits. (10% restriction on dried fruit) n Is “fruit leather” allowed? n No; fruit leather is not considered as either a fresh or dried fruit. 16 10/23/2021
n Must only fresh vegetables be offered in the FFVP? n Yes. Fresh “cooked” vegetables are not allowed however, heating slightly or partially steaming certain vegetables to make them more appealing is OK. 17 10/23/2021
n Are there any requirements for serving sizes? n No. However, the servings offered should be appropriate for the age and consumption pattern of participating children. 18 10/23/2021
n Can commodities be used in the FFVP? n Yes; dried and fresh fruits offered as commodities, or commodity items such as peanut butter used with produce may be used in the FFVP. 19 10/23/2021
n Can FFVP funds be used to purchase fruits and vegetables through Department of Defense’s (DOD) Fresh or DOD Farm to School program? n Yes. 20 10/23/2021
n Is it allowable to have a type of dip offered with cut-up fresh vegetables like celery, carrots, etc. ? Must the dip be yogurtbased? n Yes, dip is allowed. Please keep in mind that the FFVP is trying to provide healthful snack alternatives for children. The dips provided should be carefully chosen, so we encourage dips that are yogurt-based. 21 10/23/2021
n Can a fresh fruit or vegetable pizza, coleslaw or other salads be offered in the FFVP? n Because such dishes are not readily considered as fresh fruits and vegetables, they may be offered only in conjunction with a nutrition education activity. 22 10/23/2021
Use of Funds/Allowable Costs Food Cost Issues n Can fresh fruits or vegetables be purchased with FFVP funds and prepared as part of a cooking demonstration and served to children in a slaw, salad or other dish? n On a limited basis as a means to introduce children to preparing and consuming fresh/dried fruits and/or fresh vegetables, FFVP funds may be used as part of this type of nutrition education activity. 23 10/23/2021
n Four cases of bananas are purchased for the FFVP. Three of the cases are used but one is not and cannot be held over the weekend. The case that is not used for the FFVP will be used in the lunch program. Should the cost be charged to the lunch program or to the FFVP? n Food purchased with FFVP funds should be used in the FFVP. Any leftovers should be recycled in accordance with board of health requirements. The first priority for leftovers is use in the FFVP. However, if leftovers cannot be easily used in the FFVP, they may be used in the meal programs or transferred to a homeless shelter in accordance with applicable board of health requirements. 24 10/23/2021
Evaluation n What plans does FNS have to evaluate the FFVP? n Donna Parsons will discuss our plans for evaluation. 25 10/23/2021
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