Elementary schools getting fresh food grants

WEST CHESTER » Five elementary schools in the Coatesville Area School District will receive funding to provide students with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Caln Elementary School, East Fallowfield Elementary School, Kings Highway Elementary School, Rainbow Elementary School, and Reeceville Elementary

School are part of themore than 230 schools statewide selected to receive $ 7 million in total grant funding through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.

FFVP provides students with a fresh fruit or vegetable snack at school during the school day to increase their consumption of healthy foods, exposure to a variety of fruits, and vegetables and promote a healthier school environment.

“Healthy, consistent, and nutritionalmeals are one of the key foundations of a student’s growth, development and well- being, and are integral to learning,” said state Sen. Andy Dinniman, D- 19th, of West Whiteland, who serves as Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “With these grants, many schools will be better equipped to assist their students’ nutritional needs.”

The program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, was first implemented in Pennsylvania in 2004 and expanded to all 50 states in 2008. The 2008 Farm Bill also expanded the program, whichwas previously only available to 25 schools in Pennsylvania, to many more schools within the Commonwealth.

The number of schools selected each year is based upon federal funding. Participation is limited to elementary schools that participate in the National School Lunch Programwith free and reduced eligibility rates at or above 50 percent.

Funding priority is given to the schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reducedpricemeals. Grantees are required to spend amajority of their grant on the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetables and must develop a plan to establish partnerships to reduce other costs. Schools are also required to provide nutrition education to students but cannot use FFVP funding topurchasenutritioneducation materials.