Free fruit and vegetable snacks were provided to over 64,000 children
in elementary and secondary schools as part of USDA’s Fruit
and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP). In an effort to promote fresh
fruit and vegetable consumption among school children and encourage
healthy dietary choices, 107 elementary and secondary schools in
5 States (Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, and Ohio) participated
in the FVPP for the 2002-03 school year. Students in participating
schools were from diverse ethnic backgrounds and family income
levels. The program was popular among most students, parents, school
teachers, principals, pilot managers, foodservice staff, and representatives
of State child nutrition programs. School staff and students recognized
health benefits from the pilot program such as increased consumption
of fruits and vegetables, reduced consumption of less healthy food,
fewer unhealthy snacks brought from home, and lessened risk of
obesity.
An evaluation of the pilot program by ERS found that the program’s
flexibility was key to its success. Schools were allowed to choose
when, where, and how to implement the program as well as the mix
and quantities of foods offered. Initial concerns, such as difficulties
with implementation, disruptions of classes, and possible messiness
of the foods, were largely addressed. For example, teachers coordinated
classroom activities with snack times. Some elementary schools
changed food delivery from hallways to the classroom to better
monitor behavior. The offerings were also modified to suit student
tastes, to conform to different delivery methods (for example,
whole fruits in free vending machines), and to accommodate daily
preparation time. To address time and labor concerns, some schools
offered more prepackaged items, such as bagged baby carrots.
Although the pilot program had ample funding, many schools cited
the requirement to use no more than 10 percent of their grant money
for nonfood costs (for example, administrative costs, such as extra
labor) as too restrictive. This cost ceiling was implemented to
ensure that the bulk of the money would be spent on fruits and
vegetables and could be adjusted if the program were to continue.
Nationwide expansion of the pilot program would cost an estimated
$4.5 billion, based on an average annual cost of $94 per student
and a count of 48.2 million children in public schools in 2001.
Costs would be higher if private schools also participated. Based
on the popularity of the pilot program, it may be expanded to other
States.
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