Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: Allocation of Funds for FY 2023

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), under Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA) is a nationwide program that operates in select elementary schools in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide funding allocation amounts for all state agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2023; to provide information on funding requirements and deadlines; and to serve as a reminder of important program requirements.

Allocation of Funds to State Agencies

For FY 2023, the total funding amount available to FNS to distribute to state agencies is $238 million. This includes $186.5 million in new funds available under Section 19 of the NSLA and an additional $51.5 million in unexpired carryover funds from previous years.

Per Section 19 of the NSLA, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will apply the following allocation formula for FFVP funding:

1. All 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive an annual grant equal to one percent of the funds made available; and
2. Remaining funds will be allocated to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands based on the proportion of the state population to the U.S. population.

All funds are allocated using this formula.¹ Please refer to the Attachment for the FFVP funding allocations being made available to each state.

Funds for State Administrative Costs

Section 19 permits state agencies to retain a portion of their total FFVP grant allocation for state administrative costs. The amount of funds retained for state administrative costs is the lesser of: (1) five percent of the state agency’s total grant for the year; or (2) the amount required to pay the costs of one full-time coordinator for the FFVP. Each state agency should identify the appropriate level and resulting salary for a FFVP coordinator within the state agency’s personnel structure. As a reminder, this provision serves to assist state agencies in determining the FFVP administrative funds they can retain from their total grant and does not require state agencies to employ a coordinator for the FFVP.

The amount retained for state administrative costs must be determined upfront, since state agencies must subtract funds used for state administrative costs prior to making school selections and determining school allocations. FFVP state administrative funds are subject to the same cost accountability and management principles applied to State Administrative Expense funds in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

School Eligibility Data for SY 2022-23

State agencies generally use free and reduced price school meal data from the preceding October to identify elementary schools eligible to participate in FFVP in the subsequent school year. However, as many SFAs will not have accurate October data because of program changes due to COVID-19, state agencies may use the data they determine to be most accurate. Therefore, state agencies may use data from October 2021 or a different month during SY 2021-22 they determine to be more accurate, data from October 2019 or October 2020, or data newly collected for SY 2022-23; the data chosen must be used consistently throughout the state.

General Program Reminders

• The statutory requirements for school selection are very prescriptive and require that schools with the highest level of free and reduced price enrollment receive priority in selection. For more detailed information regarding school targeting, outreach to needy schools and the application process, please refer to FNS memorandum SP 10-2010, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Targeted School Selection and Outreach Process (Dec. 1, 2009). See also the manual Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: A Handbook for Schools, found at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/handbook.pdf
• As stated in Section 19 of the NSLA, only elementary schools are eligible to participate in the FFVP. Secondary schools are not allowed to participate.
• Total enrollment of all schools selected by the state agency must result in a per-student allocation of $50 to $75 per year.
• The application process must be conducted annually. However, returning schools do not have to submit a new application each year; instead, they are permitted to update their application on file, at the discretion of the state agency.
• As stated earlier, all elementary schools should be operating the FFVP as soon as the new school year begins. Therefore, to the extent practicable, state agencies are strongly encouraged to select their schools before the current school year ends.
• Financial reporting for the FFVP will be conducted via the Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS). State agencies must submit the Federal Financial Report SF-425 ² electronically for four quarters and also submit a final report. Instructions for reporting on the SF-425 can be found at the “Help” option at the FPRS main menu under “OMB Forms and Forms Instructions.”

The following table provides some key FFVP dates:

State agencies with questions regarding FFVP should contact their respective regional offices.

Jessica Saracino
Director
Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division
Child Nutrition Programs

Attachment

• FY 2023 FFVP State Allocations

¹ Per Section 19 of the NSLA, FNS has retained $500,000 for administrative costs of carrying out FFVP.

² The burden associated with this requirement is captured under OMB #0584-0594 Food Programs Reporting System (FPRS) – 07/31/2023