USDA Awards $9 Million To Promote Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in School

Release No. 0312.04

Contact: Jean Daniel (202) 720-3310
Susan Acker (703) 305-2286

USDA Awards $9 Million To Promote Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in School

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2004 –- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the continuation and expansion of a fresh fruit and vegetable program that is designed to increase consumption of fruits and vegetables by children.

"Promoting healthy eating is an important component of President Bush's HealthierUS initiative," said Veneman. "This program provides another opportunity to teach lifelong healthy eating habits by making fresh fruits and vegetables available to children."

The 2002 Farm Bill provided $6 million for the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program for the 2002-2003 school year. Twenty-five elementary and secondary schools in each of four states, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio and seven schools in the Zuni Pueblo of New Mexico were selected to participate in original pilot. Pilot sites were chosen to represent a mix of large and small, rural, suburban and urban schools. The pilot evaluation showed that the program was popular with students and administrators, improved student eating habits, raised student preference for and awareness of a variety of fruits and vegetables and that schools were interested in continuing if funding was available.

The recently enacted Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act made the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program permanent. Effective Oct. 1, 2004, $9 million will be made available for the schools that were part of the original pilot.

The Act also provides for the expansion of the program to three states. The states selected for the expansion are Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and two Indian reservations, including one or more tribes belonging to the Intertribal Council of Arizona and the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The USDA as well as the National 5-A-Day Partnership will provide educational materials to participating schools. Each of the participating states will be given funding for the program that will begin operation during the 2004-2005 school year.

"USDA is a partner in the National 5-A-Day program that promotes the consumption of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day," said Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Eric M. Bost, who made the announcement at a healthy eating event at Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA. "This program is a great way to help children meet those daily requirements."

In 2002, President Bush launched the HealthierUS initiative by directing all Federal Departments to work together to develop plans to help American live longer, better and healthier lives. Components of the initiative include participating in daily physical activity, eating a healthy diet, getting preventive screenings and making healthy choices.

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service administers the Food Stamp Program, Child Nutrition Programs (including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs), and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These programs serve low-income, nutritionally at-risk individuals and families.

For more information on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and its programs, please visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns .