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Child Nutrition Information
Child Nutrition Services
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FRESH FRUIT & VEGETABLE PROGRAM(FFVP)School Year 2009Thank you to all the schools who submitted Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program applications. Unfortunately, we could only 25 schools. The evaluation panel, using the weighted criteria outlined in the RFP, has completed its review of the proposals received. The schools receiving the panel’s highest scores and the awards are:
Congratulations to all. With the recent passage of the Farm Bill, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program will continue for several years. We look forward to awarding additional schools Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Funds next year.
Documentation needed to participate in the Fresh Fruit Vegetable Program (FFVP) as referenced in the Superintendent's Information Letter ##
FFVP Monthly Reimbursement Form
QUESTIONSHow much is the FFVP grant for. The total grant is 250,000 for Maine to disburse to 25 schools. The amount a school receives is based on FFVP Claims for reimbursement.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Questions and Answers 1. Can I apply for more than one school in my district? Yes. Each school must complete a separate application. If a limited number of schools apply, it is possible that more than one school in a district could be selected but USDA is looking for a mix of small and large schools, urban and rural schools and a variety of nutrition education strategies. 2. Can I apply for a school that is less than 50% or more free and reduced? Yes. Extra points are given to low income schools since a majority of the schools selected must be low income. At least 13 of the 25 schools must meet 50% or more free and reduced. 3. Can Private schools that participate in the national School Lunch Program apply? 4. Level of funding. I need to know if this will cost us money. In other words will this be self paying or is the local school district expected to partially fund. This is extremely important as our budget for next year does not have enough increase to cover the rising cost of food and supplies let alone adding new programs. Funding is based on enrollment of the schools. School with enrollments under 100 students will receive a slightly higher reimbursement. Maine will receive $253,761.22 to be divided between 25 schools. Each school is allowed up to 10% for program administration based on their total allocation. For startup purposes, it may be necessary for schools to spend a greater proportion of their initial allocation on administrative costs. This is acceptable as long as the total spent on program administration is limited to the 10% of their total allocation. Example of the per student funding: If 25 schools combined have a student population of 8750 (average of 350 students each) with no schools of 100 or fewer; then each school would receive $29 per student from July 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009. If 2 schools have 100 students each and 23 schools have 8350 students combined; reimbursement for the 2 schools would be $30.955 per student from July 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 with the 23 schools would receive 28.955 per student. The School Food Service Program should not be adding funding for the FFVP nor is FFVP funding to be used to provide a portion of a reimbursable meal or snack or augment a school’s a la carte program. The FFVP is a stand alone program. Funds may be added to the FFVP through school partnerships with other organizations. 5. Paper Work: Do we do a daily form for counts and usage? What kind of documentation will be required? Do we need to keep invoices to prove what was purchased? Are there any surprises we need to know about? Keep all records to support the FFVP expenses paid with advance funds and your claims for reimbursement. This would include copies of invoices. Keep a file for the FFVP with the following folders or sections labeled as: Contract Addendums 5. Can I serve fruit and vegetables at meal time? Yes, but they can not be a part of the reimbursable meal or a la carte. They would need to be served in a different area of the cafeteria and be available to all students and include a nutrition education piece. Schools should consider methods of delivery that would not negatively impact meal counts. Schools should consider best delivery method for their school to increase consumption of the fresh fruits and vegetables. Creative methods of delivery and provision of nutrition education receive maximum points in review of applications. 7. When can fruit and vegetables be served? Fruits and vegetables may be served before school, after school, during school. Consider times of day that would not negatively impact the school’s meal counts. Consider how the servings of fruits and vegetables can be incorporated into nutrition education. Example, students cut vegetables to make a veggie pizza. 8. Can fresh fruits and vegetables be offered after school? The FFVP cannot be offered during meal service periods, including the After School Snack Program. However, free fruits and vegetables may be offered after school under the project during school sponsored athletic programs, club meetings, and other activities. 9. Is there a number of days that we have to serve fresh fruits and vegetables? Current funding may not be enough to serve fresh fruits and vegetables daily. 10. Are there any requirements for serving sizes? The servings offered should be appropriate for the age and consumption pattern of the participating students. 11. What may be done with leftovers? 12. Can teachers and school personnel take the produce offered? The FFVP project must be targeted to the students. However, teachers and school staff may consume the produce since they serve as models for behavior to encourage consumption of produce by students. 13. Can students take the fruits and vegetables out of the school (on the bus, on the playground, home)? Yes, consistent with school policy, students may take the food out of the school. 14. Can a school offer the FFVP as part of its seamless summer program? No, the FFVP can not be offered in seamless summer. 15. In order to be fiscally responsible, can we order fresh fruits and vegetables from a vendor or do we need to order from our local grocery store? The Food Service Program should competitively shop for the fresh fruit and vegetable purchases. Vendors, grocery stores and farmers may be used to purchase items. Farm to School is encouraged and extra points are awarded for schools that include a Farm to School component in their application. 16. Assuming we would be approved and start the program and we find either it's costing us more then we can afford or we don't have the staff some days to offer this can we modify what we said we planned to do in the original grant process? For example we say we plan to offer fruits and vegetables every day. We find after a few months there are days we do not have staff and can not do this on a daily basis. Are we in violation and could lose funding or the program? Under current funding it may not be likely that a daily fruit and vegetable offering is feasible. As this is the first year of the project, the State Agency will work closely with the selected schools on modifications to their plan if necessary. 16. Would this program be reviewed during our regular review or would it be required to be reviewed more often? The FFVP will be reviewed as part of the Coordinated Review Effort. Additional reviews are not planned at this time. 17. Would the funds for this program be included in our monthly reimbursement check? If not how often would we be reimbursed? At this time, a monthly reimbursement check will be issued separate from the meals check. The reimbursement form is a paper form that will be mailed or faxed to the State Agency monthly. They are due on the 8th day of each month. A copy of the reimbursement form is on the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program web pages. 18. Would we be required to do additional reports, surveys, etc. for either the State or Federal Government? A monthly claim form and an end of the year report is required of the selected schools. 19. Is this a one year grant? Do you think it could be extended? Are we expected to continue and pickup the full cost at the end of the grant? If the Farm Bill passes as currently proposed, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program would be extended. In extending the FFVP, schools would apply each year. School units may choose to offer the program opportunity to different schools each year or continue at the existing school. There is no expectation to continue the program beyond the year of funding. In States where the FFVP was piloted, some schools continued a similar program linking nutrition education with sampling fresh fruits and vegetables. 20. When will the funding be available? On or before July 1, 2008, Maine will receive an initial allocation of $40,000 to fund the FFVP until September 30, 2008. This will be divided among the 25 schools based on enrollment. Participating schools can begin obligating these funds as of July 1, 2008. In keeping with the fiscal year timeframe, no further obligations of these funds can be made after September 30, 2008. We recognize the short timeframe; however, schools only have to obligate their funds by the September 30, 2008 deadline. Goods can be received in October or even November, as long as the funds are expended by December 30, 2008. The remainder of each Maine’s FFVP funds, $213,761.22, will be made available on or around October 1, 2008 and will be available through the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2009. The close out timeframe for these FFVP funds is the same as with all programs. No further obligations can occur after September 30, 2009 and all obligations must be liquidated by December 30, 2009. 21. Can I fax the application? Applications can NOT be faxed. The envelope must be labeled: USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program. The application must be mailed or hand delivered to: Division of Purchases; Burton M. Cross Building, 4th Floor; 111 Sewall Street; 9 State House Station; Augusta, ME 04333-0009. The application must be received by Purchases by 2 p.m. May 29th. This is NOT a postmark date. 22. When will we know? The plan is to select the schools by mid June. Announcements should be received shortly after the decisions are finalized. Winning schools will also be posted on the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable web pages.
The above questions about FFVP in WORD document click here!
Other Useful InformationIf you have any questions, please contact Gail Lombardi at 624-6876 or gail.lombardi@maine.gov. |
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