Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

Funding Description

The Nutrition Services Division would like to announce this Request for Applications as a grant opportunity for all eligible school food authorities (SFA) to apply for the federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for School Year 2026-27. This FFVP grant period is July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027. The purpose of the FFVP is for elementary schools to provide an additional, free fresh fruit or vegetable snack to students during the school day.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants	Local educational agencies, other organizations or agencies
Required Eligibility Criteria	Public school districts, county offices of education, direct-funded charter schools, private schools, and residential child care institutions who are SFAs are eligible to apply on behalf of elementary school sites that participate in the National School Lunch Program, have 50 percent or more of its students eligible for free or reduced-price (F/RP) meals, and agree to provide free, fresh fruits and vegetables to all enrolled children during the school day.
Other Eligibility Considerations	Per federal law, schools are chosen based on their percentage of students qualifying for F/RP meals, with the highest priority given to elementary schools with the highest percentages of low-income students. Note: For grades 6, 7, and 8 to be eligible, they must be a part of a qualifying elementary school.
Eligible Grade Level(s)	Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, TK
Eligible Age Level(s)	Not applicable

Funding

Legal Authority	Budget Act Item Number 6100-201-0890, Schedule (1)
Source / Type	Federal / Grant
State Fiscal Year	2026-27
SACS Resource / Revenue Codes	5370 / 8220
Total Available	$16,000,000
Recipient Amount	Various (Per student award has a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $75.)
Match Requirement	No
Allocation Formula	The amount of the individual school grant will depend on the total enrollment of the schools participating in the program. Per student award has a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $75.

Important Dates

Date Application Available	December 8, 2025
Due Date	February 6, 2026
Expected Notification Date	June 30, 2026

Additional Information

Application	RFA-26: FFVP Grants 2026–27 [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r9/ffvp26rfa.asp]
Background	http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/caffvp.asp?tabsection=0
Fiscal	Unavailable
Other	The total amount of funding available is estimated; the actual amount will be released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture by June 2026.

Contacts

Program	The FFVP Team, FFVP@cde.ca.gov
Fiscal	The FFVP Team, FFVP@cde.ca.gov
Division	Nutrition Services Division, 916-445-0850