The Maryland State Department of Education has been awarded $917,830 in federal funds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This money will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to children enrolled in selected schools statewide.
It's all in an effort to reduce childhood obesity and assist children with developing healthy eating habits early in life. After a competitive application process, 25 schools have been approved to participate in the program, plus an additional 16 are expected to be approved soon.
The Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 allocated $40 million dollars to fund the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) in schools nationwide. The current funding level for the FFVP provides reimbursement for fresh fruits and vegetables to a selected number of schools at a rate of $50 per child over the school year.
The program provides a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day to introduce fresh produce as a healthy snack option for children. Fruits and vegetables may only be served during school hours and cannot be served with School Breakfast Programs or National School Lunch Program meals. This provides an opportunity for teachers to incorporate nutrition lessons with the serving of fresh produce.
The program targets schools with a high percentage of low-income students because their students are likely to have reduced access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
