DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 14
April 25, 2008
ADMINISTRATIVE
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
USDA Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Program |
This memorandum notifies
school divisions of a new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
program available in
The Office of School
Nutrition Programs is pleased to announce that 25 schools in
Currently, schools operating the FFVP throughout
the country use classrooms or a combination of classrooms and kiosks to deliver
fruits and vegetables to students. There
are many creative ways to implement the program. School nutrition directors/supervisors are
encouraged to generate ideas and talk with school administrators and others in the
school community to develop a plan for implementing the FFVP. Those interested in applying are strongly
encouraged to read the USDA Fresh Fruit
and Vegetable Program Handbook for Schools, which is available on the USDA
Web site at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FFVP/Guidance/handbook.pdf
Twenty-five schools
will be selected to participate in the FFVP for school year 2008-2009. Selection is limited to schools that participate
in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The majority of the schools
selected must be those in which 50 percent or more of the students are eligible
for free or reduced price meals. The schools selected to participate will be
identified through a competitive application process. Schools previously identified by the Office of
School Improvement to participate in the Partnership for Achieving Successful
Schools (PASS) initiative are strongly encouraged to apply for the FFVP.
The selected
schools will be funded from July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009. Each school’s grant
amount will be determined using an enrollment based formula established by USDA.
The majority of
the funds must be dedicated to the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. No more than 10 percent of the grant funds
may be spent on labor and administrative costs.
Non-federal resource
partnerships are essential to successfully fulfilling the requirements of the program. As part of the application process, schools
are required to develop a plan to establish non-federal resource partnerships to
minimize costs. To assist schools in
identifying these resources, Examples of Non-Federal Resource Partners is Attachment B to this
memo.
Schools are also
required to provide nutrition education as part of the program. Grant funds may not be used to purchase
promotional materials such as t-shirts, stickers, decorations or similar items.
Schools must include in their application a plan to establish partnerships that
will assist in providing nutrition education.
Examples of Nutrition Education Partners
can also be found in Attachment B.
Since the intent
of the program is to develop healthier eating habits, students in selected
schools should be exposed to a variety of fruits and vegetables. The FFVP can help to reinforce health-promoting
practices within schools. Resources are
available to assist schools in assessing, identifying, and improving the school
health environment, including the Governor’s Nutrition and Physical Activity
Scorecard. Schools are also encouraged
to enroll as Team Nutrition schools at www.fns.usda.gov/tn.
Schools selected
to participate in the FFVP for school year 2008-2009 will be notified by the
end of June and will be required to attend a FFVP orientation in
Applications for
the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, May
30, 2008, to:
Office of School
Nutrition Programs
ATTN: Lynne Fellin, FFVP Coordinator
Questions and
requests for information about the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program may be
directed to Lynne A. Fellin, associate director of school nutrition programs,
by telephone at (804) 225-2717 or by e-mail at lynne.fellin@doe.virginia.gov,
or to the assigned school nutrition program specialist.
BKCJr/LAF/ec
Attachments
a. School Profile/Application (Word)