| Nutrition Services Division Information Alert |
|
| To: Public School Districts and County Offices of Education |
Number: USDA-SNP-02-2008 |
| Attention: Business Officials, Food Service, and Food Program Directors |
Date: April 2008 |
| Subject: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant Request for Applications | |
| Reference: United States Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program | |
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grants
Introduction
This Information Alert describes the availability of grant funds for public school sites applying through their school districts or county offices of education (COEs) to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). It also outlines eligibility requirements, the funding time line, overall requirements of grantees, and the grant application process.
Background
The FFVP initially began as a pilot project authorized by Congress in 2002. The pilot provided funds to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in four States and an Indian Tribal Organization for the 2002-03 school year. The purpose of the pilot was to determine the best practices for increasing fruit (both fresh and dried) and fresh vegetable consumption.
Encouraged by the success of the pilot program, Congress converted the pilot into a permanent program in 2004 under the National School Lunch Act. This conversion expanded the program to an additional four states, and authorized additional states to participate. In 2006, the FFVP expanded to six other states.
The Fiscal Year 2008 Appropriation Act provides $9.9 million to increase the FFVP to the remaining 37 states. In the Western Region, California is included in addition to Alaska, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and Oregon. California will receive approximately $250,000 through this program to award grants to 25 school sites.
The FFVP follows a reimbursement model similar to other Child Nutrition Programs. The California Department of Education (CDE) will reimburse the FFVP schools for purchases of fresh fruits, dried fruits, and fresh vegetables served at no cost to children during the school day. Within basic requirements, the FFVP provides schools the flexibility to develop individual implementation plans involving teachers and other school members. Therefore, schools can determine when, where, and how they plan to execute the FFVP and what mix of fresh fruits and vegetables they will serve to schoolchildren.
Grant applications are due to the CDE by Wednesday, May 21, 2008. The FFVP grant period is July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.
Grant Eligibility
California public school districts and COEs are eligible to apply on behalf of their school sites and charter schools that participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. In addition, school sites MUST:
- Have 50 percent or greater of enrolled students eligible for free and reduced-price meals as documented in October 2007.
- Be in “good standing” in the administration of their Child Nutrition Programs.
- Be an active “Shaping Health As Partners in Education” (SHAPE) California agency or apply for SHAPE membership at the time of the grant application.
- Commit to have a school team of at least three individuals participate in two, one-day, seasonal trainings (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Centerpiece for a Healthy School Environment) conducted by the Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Resource Centers, pending receipt of Team Nutrition funding for the trainings.
- The trainings will be free to the school sites.
- The Team Nutrition funds will pay for travel and stipends for substitute staff for the three-member team to attend the workshops.
- The trainings will be held in the spring and summer of 2009.
- The school team, at a minimum, must consist of the district child nutrition director or designee; the school site cafeteria manager; and, a teacher involved in nutrition education and/or school gardens.
All grant applications will be competitively scored against the above criteria, and ranked in scoring order.
Grant Funding
The 12-month grant period for the FFVP grants is from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009. The CDE will award grants to 25 schools based on a competitive scoring of applications submitted by schools, their proposal’s alignment with the goals of the FFVP, and their geographic distribution. The amount of the individual school grant awards will depend on the total enrollment of the schools participating in the Program. All grants are subject to availability of funds.
Funds are primarily for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables made available at no charge to students. Up to 10 percent of the grant funds may be used for administrative costs. Schools will receive reimbursement for operating and allowable administrative costs based on submission of a monthly performance report.
Grant Requirements
By April 17, 2008, the NSD will post the grant application and instructions for download from the CDE’s Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/. Eligible school district and COE applicants must:
- Submit a completed Grant Application Package by May 21, 2008;
- Make fresh fruits and vegetables available at no cost to all enrolled children;
- Notify children and the parents of your school that fresh fruits and vegetables are available at no cost at school;
- Have documented support of the Food Service Director, Principal, and District Superintendent;
- Submit a grant implementation plan that includes outside support or collaboration with state, local, or private partners (these partnerships would help the school with acquisition, handling, promotion, distribution, nutrition education, or other activities that contribute to the goals of the FFVP); and
- Have a school team of at least three individuals participate in two, one-day, seasonal trainings (Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Centerpiece for a Healthy School Environment), conducted by the Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Resource Centers, pending receipt of Team Nutrition funding for the trainings.
Tentative Time Line
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| April 17, 2008 | Application posted on the CDE’s Web site http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/ |
| April 30, 2008 | Optional “Intent to Apply” due to the CDE |
| May 2, 2008 | Deadline for submitting questions regarding RFA to David Hazeleaf at dhazeleaf@cde.ca.gov |
| May 21, 2008 | Applications due to the CDE. Applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered by 5:00 p.m. One original and five copies of completed application package must be mailed to: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grants |
| May 2008 | Applications reviewed and scored |
| June 2008 | Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grants awarded |
| July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 |
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant period |
Questions
If you have questions regarding the grant process, please contact Elizabeth Moreno, Nutrition Education Consultant, Education and Nutrition Policy Unit (ENPU), at 916-324-9749 or by e-mail at emoreno@cde.ca.gov, or David Hazeleaf, Staff Service Analyst, ENPU, at 916-323-5757 or by e-mail at dhazeleaf@cde.ca.gov.
