Program History

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (PL 107-171) authorized the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot in 4 states and 1 Indian Tribal Organization (Zuni, New Mexico). The purpose of the pilot was to determine the best practices for increasing fruit (both fresh and dried) and fresh vegetable consumption in schools.

As a result of the program’s popularity, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (PL 108-265) added 4 more states (Pennsylvania, Mississippi, North Carolina, Washington), 10 schools in South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, and 8 schools in Arizona’s Tribal Council (3 schools in the Gila River Pima Community and 5 schools in the Tohono O’odham Community).

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006 (PL 109-97) appropriated money to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to include: Utah, Wisconsin, New Mexico (25 schools), Texas, Connecticut, and Idaho. The Farm Bill amended the National School Lunch Act by eliminating section 18(f) and adding section 19, the FFVP and provided significant changes from the previous program. New section 19 includes:

• Changes to funding and amounts, increases for the next 3 SYs and then adjustments based on the Consumer price Index in all subsequent years.
• Number of schools that can participate, no longer 25 and determined by the per student allocation.
• Determination of allocation of funds to states and school.
• Funds now available for state administration.
• School selection criteria and requirements.

The program is now nation-wide in selected schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.