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) 2020; 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 2020, the total funding amount available to FNS to distribute to state agencies is $193.5 million. This includes $175.5 million in new funds available under Section 19 of the NSLA, which is the prior year base amount adjusted for inflation, and an additional $18 million in unexpired carryover funds from previous years.

Per Section 19 of the NSLA, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service 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 minimum FFVP funding available for 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 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.

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 (December 1, 2009). See also the manual Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: A Handbook for Schools, found at http://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, 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 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.”

Key Dates

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

Sarah E. Smith-Holmes
Director
Program Monitoring and Operational Support Division
Child Nutrition Programs

Attachment

• FFVP Allocations by State for Fiscal Year 2020

Incident: Power Outages and Flooding

When: May 1, 2019 and continuing

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP)

• On June 3, 2019, FNS approved the Kansas Department for Children and Families' request to waive timely reporting of food loss and will allow affected households to make a request for replacement of SNAP benefits from June 3 through June 24, 2019. These replacement SNAP benefits will allow households to replace food lost due to power outages caused by flooding, severe storms, and tornadoes that began on May 9, 2019, and lasted through May. This waiver applies to counties of Anderson, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Franklin, Greenwood, Harvey, Montgomery, Neosho, Osage, Reno, Sumner, Wilson, and Woodson.

State agencies are responsible for requesting and operating the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). For more information, visit the state’s website or call the state’s SNAP hotline at 1-888-369-4777. For questions related to your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, call 1-800-997-6666.

If you think you may be eligible for disaster food assistance in your state, please contact your local state office.

The CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays webinar series is a set of interactive, skills-building webinars that focus on hot topics related to the updated Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal patterns.

This webinar will focus on how CACFP operators can use a food’s ingredient list to identify whole grain-rich items for their menus, with a focus on how to treat flour blends. To receive a certificate of participation after viewing this webinar, please visit https://www.cacfp.org/thirty-on-thursdays/ and complete the post-webinar practice questions. It may take a few days to receive your certificate.

La serie Medio tiempo del CACFP: treinta los jueves es un conjunto de seminarios web interactivos que desarrollan habilidades y se centran en temas de interés relacionados con los patrones de comidas actualizados del Programa de Alimentos para el Cuidado de Niños y Adultos (CACFP, por sus siglas en inglés). Este seminario web se enfoca en cómo los operadores del CACFP pueden usar la lista de ingredientes de un alimento para identificar alimentos ricos en grano integral para sus menús, incluyendo cómo tratar las mezclas de harinas. Para recibir un certificado de participación después de ver este seminario web, visite https://www.cacfp.org/thirty-on-thursdays/ y complete las preguntas de práctica posteriores al seminario web. Puede tomar unos días para recibir su certificado.

Back to the CSFP Sharing Gallery Main Page

This gallery contains photo albums and videos from CSFP program sites, non-profits, and government agencies. Photos can be used to add visual appeal to presentations and handouts, or on social media messaging and websites. Videos can be used as part of a larger training or presentation or to provide inspiration and ideas to CSFP program participants.

Videos

	My Groceries to Go FNS Mid-Atlantic Regional Office In May 2022, FNS Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Dr. Patty Bennett joined Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA) Deputy Secretary Bernice Hutchinson and other nutrition partners at Sandtown Winchester Senior Center in West Baltimore to promote “My Groceries to Go,” the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in Maryland. The event, hosted as part of Older Americans Month, celebrated the partnership between FNS, Meals on Wheels, and The Salvation Army. It also showcased resources provided by the Baltimore City Health Department’s Division of Aging and Care Services and MDOA for older adults that complement CSFP enrollments.
	Older Adult Nutrition Month and SNAP Advocacy The National Council on Aging This webinar is for program administrators that work to increase participation in SNAP among low-income older adults and provides best practices on how to provide outreach to SNAP-eligible seniors.
	COVID-19: Finding Affordable Food The National Council on Aging The physical distance and isolation required to stem the spread of COVID-19 means older adults are struggling to safely get and afford food. Here are some options to help.
	MyPlate Kitchen Recipes U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service MyPlate Kitchen has over 16 recipe videos showing how to prepare healthy, budget-friendly recipes.
	MyPlate Grocery Store Tour University of Connecticut Come on a grocery store tour with the SNAP4CT Dietitians to find the healthiest and most economical MyPlate food choices.
	SNAP-Ed Recipe Video Collections U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service SNAP-Ed Partners across the country have created hundreds of quick and easy-to-follow recipe videos. Visit these SNAP-Ed sites to check out videos with step-by-step instructions to help everyone become a cooking champion!
	Go4Life Exercise Videos U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging The NIA's YouTube channel has free workout videos that are made specifically for older adults.

Photos

CSFP Photo Album United States Department of Agriculture This photo album showcases CSFP operations and nutrition education activities at Focus: HOPE in Detroit, Cumberland Community Cares Food Pantry in Virginia, and Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) facilitated the development of this Sharing Gallery. Materials placed here do not reflect the policies of FNS, and FNS does not conduct thorough reviews of materials submitted for placement here. Interested in contributing content to the CSFP Sharing Gallery? Please review our Sharing Gallery Criteria for submitting materials. Send your photos and videos to USDAFoods@usda.gov.