Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

The following training materials were created prior to the passing of Senate Bill 1312 "Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act" and thus reflect the name of Department of Education. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services maintains the availability of these materials for the benefit of the public.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides funding to schools so they can provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to students three to five days per week outside the breakfast and lunch service.

The goal of the FFVP is to:

• Create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices.
• Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience.
• Increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption.
• Make a difference in children's diets to impact their present and future health.

2012-2013 Application Package

The 2012-2013 FFVP Application is now available. Applications are due Monday, April 2, 2012. Please see the memo for specific instructions.

• Memo  
• 2012-2013 Application  
• 2012-2013 Application Update  

Participating Schools

• 2011-2012 Public Schools/Districts  
• 2010-2011 Public Schools/Districts  
• 2009-2010 Public Schools/Districts  
• 2008-2009 Public Schools/Districts  

Forms

• 2011-2012 Blank Budget  
• School Food Authority Monitoring Form  
• Site Monitoring Form  
• Production Record Book 2011-2012  

Guidance

• Claims Procedures
• Claims Procedures  
• School Garden Q&A Memo  
• USDA Frequently Asked Questions  
• USDA Handbook  
• 2011-2012 Program Orientation Training
• 2011-2012 Program Orientation Training  

Tools You Can Use!

Use these templates to enhance your FFVP.

• Cooking Demonstration using Spaghetti Squash  
• Fruit and Vegetable Songs  
• Growing Your own Avocado Tree  
• Menu  
• Menu and Fun Facts  
• Morning Announcements or Point of Sale Posters  
  Use these as morning announcements or point of sale posters on the cafeteria line to promote nutrition education.
• Newsletter  
• Nutrition Nibbles  
• Parent Letter  
• Principal Letter  
• Sample Lesson Plan  
• Fruit and Vegetable of the Day Facts
• Fruit and Vegetable of the Day Facts  
• Fruit and Vegetable Teaching Points
• Fruit and Vegetable Teaching Points  
• Staff Survey  
• Student Survey  
• Teacher Letter  
• Teacher Survey  
• Time Sheet  

Program Partners

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Florida "Farm to School" Program
• National Farm to School Program
• Produce for Better Health Foundation
• United Fresh Produce Association

Program Resources

• Farm to School Field Guide: For Parents and Community Members  
• Program History
• FFVP Brochure - English  
• FFVP Brochure – Spanish  
• FFVP Fact Sheet
• FFVP Teacher Flyer  
• Florida Department of Education, School Gardens
• Fruit and Vegetable Safety
• Fruits and Vegetables Galore: Helping Kids Eat More
• Fruit and Veggies - More Matters® - Fruits and Vegetables of the Month
• USDA MyPlate.gov
• USDA Team Nutrition
• What's in Season?

Nutrition Education Resources

• Pre-K -8 Lesson Plans
  Fruit and vegetable lesson plans and accompanying resources for grades pk-8
• California Department of Public Health
  Fruit and vegetable lesson plans for 4th and 5th graders.
• Crunch the Numbers
  A standards-based math program developed by Scholastic and the Produce Marketing Association shows students how to make fruits and vegetables a healthy part of their lives. Appropriate for 3rd and 4th grade.
• Cruciferous Crusaders
  Language arts, math, social studies, science, and health lessons about an important cancer fighting vegetable. Appropriate for 3rd through 5th grade.
• Dole SuperKids in the Classroom
  A comprehensive tool that promotes eating 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Appropriate for students in grades K-5.
• Florida Department of Education, School Gardens
  School garden lesson plans that highlight a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Fruit and Veggie Classroom Activities  
  Promote fruit and veggies in the classroom through arts and crafts, numbers and counting, reading, taste testing, and school gardens.
• Fruit and Veggie Color Champions
  Provides a variety of educational tools such as activity books, coloring sheets, and useful links to help children learn how to increase fruit and vegetable intake.
• Indiana Department of Education
  Math, science, reading/language arts, and combined curriculum lessons featuring fruits and vegetables for all grade levels.
• Iowa Department of Public Health
  Monthly Pick a Better Snack and Act – fruit and vegetable lesson plans for kindergarten through 5th grades.
• The Fruit Packet  
  Free, printable worksheets (i.e. word wall, flash cards, coloring pages and activity sheets) for kindergarten through first grade.
• The Vegetable Packet  
  Free, printable worksheets (i.e. word wall, flash cards, coloring pages and activity sheets) for kindergarten through first grade.
• Nutrition Education Ideas  
  Nutrition education is a critical part of the FFVP's success. Here are some examples Florida FFVP schools are using to educate their students.
• USDA Fruit and Vegetable Bulletin Board Resources

Contact Information

Katie Rainka, Program Coordinator
Food, Nutrition and Wellness
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 120
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Katie.Rainka@freshfromflorida.com
Phone: (850) 617-7432
Toll Free: (800) 504-6609
Fax: (850) 617-7402