Fruit and Vegetable Opportunities at the Arizona Department of Education

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Fruit and Vegetable Opportunities at the
Arizona Department of Education
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• Jessica Creed-Capsel
• Director of Food Distribution, DOD Fresh Produce,
  Farm to School, and School Gardens
• [phone] or
• Jessica.Creed-Capsel_at_azed.gov

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Objective

• To educate you on the programs available through
  the ADE that can help bring fruits and vegetables
  into Arizona schools.

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Welcome!

• USDA Foods
• DOD Fresh Produce
• FFVP
• Farm to School

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USDA Foods

• Participants of the National School
  Lunch/Breakfast Programs
• Makes up 15-25 of school lunch
• Protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables
  (fresh, canned, and frozen, dried) 180
  different items

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USDA Foods

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Over 326 million in 2010
• Canned fruit always extra light sucrose
  unsweetened applesauce
• Canned vegetables 140mg of sodium or less
• Fresh options available
• New items for 2011-12
  Dried fruit mix, figs, fresh
  apples

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USDA Foods

• Schools purchase these foods using USDA
  entitlement dollars, not out-of-pocket dollars
• Program is customer driven
• Arizona received 26 million in USDA Foods
  entitlement for school year 2011-12
• 25 Fruits and Vegetables
• 22 Beef
• 11 Chicken
• 22 Cheese

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USDA Foods in Arizona

• Arizonas USDA Foods for school year 2011-12
• Vegetables carrots, sweet potatoes, white
  potatoes, peas, corn, tomatoes/tomato sauce,
  black-eyed peas, salsa
• Beans green, turtle, pinto, kidney, garbanzo,
  refried
• Fruits apples, oranges, cherries, blueberries,
  strawberries, apricots, peaches, pears, fruit
  mix, figs, raisins

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Arizona Nutrition Network USDA Foods

• Promote the use of USDA Foods in the schools you
  work with
• Provide nutrition education around the types of
  fruits and vegetables the school receives via
  USDA Foods
• Encourage schools to choose the healthiest USDA
  Foods

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Department of Defense Fresh Produce Program

• Overview
• 1993 piloted in eight states (3.2 million)
• Partnership between DOD Troop Support USDA
• Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
  sets aside 50 million/year to support the
  program in all participating states including US
  territories

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DOD Program Overview

• USDA Entitlement Dollars
• Used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables
• Supplement where USDA Foods cannot provide fresh
• All American grown produce
• Purchase through a single distributor
• Stern Produce
• - Sign a long term contract with the DOD Troop
  Support to provide service to schools and
  military bases
• - Responsible for procurement, storage and
  distribution using commercial industry practices

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DOD Fresh in Arizona

• Arizona
• 2010-11 received 1.35 million (32 schools)
• End of year balance was 0.25
• 2011-12 received 2.5 million (50 schools)
• Entitlements range from 700 - 250,000

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Benefits of DOD Fresh Produce

• Offer fresh fruits and vegetables for school
  lunches/breakfast
• Receive weekly deliveries of only the amounts
  ordered
• Door-to-Door delivery direct to warehouse,
  kitchen, or school sites
• Schools purchase these foods using USDA
  entitlement dollars, not out-of-pocket dollars
• Local produce options

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How to get on the program

• Participate in the National School Lunch Program
• Participate in the USDA Foods Program
• Contact ADEs Food Distribution team
• Open enrollment
• No minimum Free/Reduced
• Must have available entitlement
• Must spend your money!

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Arizona Nutrition Network DOD Fresh Produce
Program

• Promote the DOD Fresh to schools
• Encourage schools to participate and to maximize
  their DOD entitlement dollars
• Encourage variety in their DOD purchases

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Background of FFVP

• Pilot Program began in 2002 -2003 school year
• 4 states and 1 ITO
• 2004 National School Lunch Act
• 4 additional states and 2 ITOs
• 2006 Appropriations Act
• 6 additional states

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Background of FFVP (cont.)

• Farm Bill became law on May 22, 2008
• Amended NSLA by adding Section 19, Fresh Fruit
  and Vegetable Program
• National program in 50 states
• 49.9 million for the 2008-2009 school year

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Program Goals

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

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Funding

• 2011-2012 school year, Arizona was awarded
  3,162,258
• USDA requires states to allocate 50-75 per
  student, per school
• Arizona allocated 52.67 per student
• Reimbursement program
• Use it or lose it

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Program Regulations

• What can be served?
• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables
• Encourage children to enjoy produce in their
  natural state

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Program Regulations (cont.)

• What can be served in limited amounts?
• Vegetable dips (low-fat or fat free, yogurt
  based)
• Cooked fresh vegetables (not canned, frozen or
  dried) that are part of a nutrition education
  lesson can be offered once a week

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Program Regulations (cont.)

• What cannot be served?
• Processed or preserved fruits and vegetables
  (canned, frozen, dried or vacuum packed)
• Dip for fruit
• Fruit leather
• Jellied fruit
• Purchased freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable
  juice
• Smoothies
• Trail mix and nuts
• Cottage cheese
• Fruit and veggie pizzas

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Program Regulations (cont.)

• Who can have fruits and vegetables?
• Students who normally attend your school (PreK -
  8)
• Head Start children
• Split session kindergarten classes
• School staff and parents if they are consuming
  with the students demonstrating behavior

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Program Regulations (cont.)

• Who cannot have fruits and vegetables?
• Community members
• Parents if students are not involved
• School staff eating the produce alone

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Program Regulations (cont.)

• When can you serve?
• Only during the school day but not during meal
  times

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Program Regulations (cont.)

• Where can you serve?
• Classrooms
• Cafeteria (not during meal times)
• Playground/Recess
• Offices
• Hallways
• Kiosks/Carts
• Free vending machines
• As part of nutrition education activities

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Nutrition Education

• Not required, but recommended
• Nutrition Education materials are not
  reimbursable
• ADE has partnered with Arizona Nutrition Network
  for materials

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Joseph City Produce Cart
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Fruit on Cart
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Recess Snack
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Apple Lesson at Gila Crossing
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Cutting Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit
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Enjoying the Produce
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Produce Bar
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Fruit Salad in Somerton
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Nutrition Lesson
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Strawberries Raspberries for a Tea Party theme
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Table is Set
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Mixed Vegetable Cup
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Cucumber Classroom Snack
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Arizona Farm to School

• New venture for Arizona
• Creating partnerships with agricultural agencies
  (AZ Dept of Ag, Farm Bureau, Cooperative Ext,
  Arizona farmers)
• Partnering with DOD vendor, Stern, to offer local
  produce to DOD participants

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• Questions?

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DOD Fresh Produce Program vs Fresh Fruit and
Vegetable Program
DOD Fresh Produce Program Fresh Fruit Vegetable Program
Entitlement A funds Grant
Bills sent from vendor to DOD who then pays the bill You pay the bill and submit a claim for reimbursement to ADE (USDA funds)
All fruits and vegetables purchased are to be used in the school breakfast, lunch or snack programs All fruits and vegetables purchased must be served OUTSIDE of the school breakfast, lunch or snack program
At this time, once enrolled your participation continues is not based on Free and Reduced Must apply each year based on Free and Reduced