Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: Allocation of Funds for FY 2025

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), authorized in Section 19 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (NSLA), 42 USC 1769a, 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) 2025, information on funding requirements and deadlines, and to serve as a reminder of important program requirements.

Allocation of Funds to State Agencies

For FY 2025, the total funding amount available to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to distribute to state agencies is $231.5 million, which includes new funds ($195 million) available under Section 19 of the NSLA and carryover funds ($36.5 million) from previous years. In FY 2024, the total amount of funding available was $253.2 million, which included $191 million in new funding and $62.2 million in carryover funds. The decrease in available FFVP funds is attributed to increased expenditures by participating schools. The increased use of FFVP funds has caused a reduction of recoveries and carryover amounts, resulting in a decrease in the overall available funding amount.

Per Section 19 of the NSLA, for FY 2025 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, but does not require state agencies to employ a coordinator for the FFVP.

The amount retained for state administrative costs must be determined in advance, 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 (SAE) funds in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

General Program Reminders

• The statutory requirements for school selection are 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 high-need schools, and the application process, please refer to FNS memorandum SP10-2010, 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.
• 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.
• Generally, each elementary school chosen to participate in the program must be a school in which not less than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. However, per Section 19(d)(2) of the NSLA, states may select additional elementary schools if there is not a sufficient number of schools that meet this criterion. States are encouraged to notify their school districts of this ability to encourage full participation and maximize use of available funds.
• 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.
• All elementary schools should begin operating the FFVP at the start of the new school year. 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 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:

Key Dates to Remember

• June 28, 2024 - State agencies select SY 2024-2025 FFVP eligible schools.
• October 1, 2024 - State agencies receive total annual funding.
• September 30, 2025 - State agencies and schools must obligate all allocated October FY 2025 funds by this date.
• December 31, 2025 - Closeout of FY2025 funds; state agencies submit final SF-425 Federal Financial Report via FPRS.

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

• FFVP Allocations by State for FY 2025

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.