Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Requirements Training Workshop 2013 – 2014 August 19, 2013 School Nutrition Programs Office of School Support Services

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Requirements Training WorkshopRequirements Training Workshop

2013 – 20142013 – 2014

August 19, 2013August 19, 2013

School Nutrition ProgramsOffice of School Support Services

Michigan Department of Education1

Congratulations!Congratulations!Tab #1Tab #1

156 schools in Michigan have been initially selected to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for School Year 2013-2014.

Selected schools get $55/student (based on October 2012 count data).

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BackgroundBackgroundTab #1Tab #1

• The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the FFVP at the national level via formula grants given to each State

• Within participating states, the FFVP is administered through the State Department of Education

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FFVP began as a pilot project under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002

This Act authorized funds for four States: Michigan, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio, and one Indian Tribal Organization

The purpose of the pilot was to determine the best practices for increasing fresh and dried fruit and fresh vegetable consumption in schools

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• The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, also known as the Farm Bill, became law on May 22, 2008 (Public Law 110-234)

• Section 4303 of P.L. 110-234 amended the National School Lunch Act by adding Section 19, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, making it a permanent program

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General InformationGeneral InformationTab #1Tab #1

• The FFVP operates through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

• Selected schools receive reimbursement for the free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks available to students during snack times during the school day

• Funding is targeted to schools with the highest number of students eligible for free or reduced meals (F/R)

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General InformationGeneral InformationTab #1Tab #1

• The grant is available through two distributions:o July 1 to September 30o October 1 to June 30

• Funds must be spent by the end of August (60 days are allowed after the end of June)

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2013-2014 School Year 1st Allocation 2nd Allocation

Project Beginning Date (approximate)

7/1/2013 10/1/2013

Project Ending Date 9/30/2013 6/30/2014

Final Obligation Date 9/30/2013 6/30/2014

Reimbursement Claims

No later than 60 days following end of claiming

month (see page 2 for claim due dates)

No later than 60 days following end of claiming

month (see page 2 for claim due dates)

Justification of Large Purchase Form due December 1, 2013

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program 2013-2014 Important Budget and Claim Dates

Tab #1

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School Selection CriteriaSchool Selection CriteriaTabs #1, 3Tabs #1, 3

• Schools must be an elementary school (K-8)• Schools must operate the NSLP• Schools must submit an application• Selected schools must have 50% or more students

eligible for F/R meals• For CEO schools, the direct certification rate x 1.6 is

used to determine percentage of F/R students

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School Selection CriteriaSchool Selection CriteriaTabs #1, 3Tabs #1, 3

• Highest priority must be given to schools with highest percentage of low-income students

• State of Michigan is allowed to consider past performance and other factors when determining grant awards, including usage of funds in past years

• Total enrollment of all schools must result in a per student allocation of $50 - $75 per yearo This year, all schools are receiving $55 per student (based on October 2012 data)

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Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program HandbookFresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Handbook

Tab #3Tab #3

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FFVP/Resources/FFVPhandbookFINAL.pdf

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Handbook Highlights (p. 1)Handbook Highlights (p. 1)Tab #1Tab #1

• The goal of the FFVP is to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices. It aims to:o Expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experienceo Increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumptiono Make a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future

health

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• Who can receive fruits & vegetables?

◦All children who normally attend the school◦Children enrolled in a Head Start, split-session

kindergarten, or child care center located in your school are eligible to receive fruit and vegetable snack◦Teachers can eat with their students to help model

healthy eating

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• When can fruit and vegetable snacks be served?

o During the school day or at a school activity during the school day

o Snacks cannot be served before school or during afterschool programs

o Snacks cannot be served during the NSLP or SBP meal service periods

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• Where to serve fruits and vegetables:o Classroomso Hallwayso Nurse and school officeso At kioskso In free vending machineso As part of nutrition education activities

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Handbook Highlights (p. 14-15)Handbook Highlights (p. 14-15)Tab #3Tab #3

• What can be served?o Fresh fruitso Fresh vegetableso Dips for vegetables with 2 tablespoon or smaller serving sizes and that

are fat-free or low-fat (indicate fat-free or low-fat on your claims)o Fruits or vegetables that have been sliced or diced into smaller pieceso Fruits or vegetables with added ascorbic acid (vitamin C)o Cooked vegetables a max of once per week IF there is a nutrition

education lesson related to the prepared item

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• Items not allowed:◦Processed or preserved fruits and vegetables (e.g.,

dried, canned, frozen, vacuum packed)◦Any dip for fruits◦Fruit leather◦Jellied fruit◦Any type of purchased juice, including freshly

squeezed fruit or vegetable juices◦Dips that are not low-fat or fat-free (hummus not

allowed)

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• Items not allowed:o Trail mix o Nutso Cottage cheese or yogurto Fruit or vegetable pizzaso Smoothieso Fruit with added flavoringo Carbonated fruit

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• Purchasing options include:o Vendors and local distributorso Local grocery storeso Farmers marketso Orchardso Local growerso Dept. of Defense (DoD) Fresh Fruit and Veg.

Program19


• FFVP schools must follow proper procurement procedures

• The “Buy American” requirement in the NSLP applies to purchases made with FFVP funds

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Handbook Highlights (p. 20)Handbook Highlights (p. 20)Tabs #3, #8Tabs #3, #8

• Nutrition Education:o For some students, the produce students see in school

might be their main exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables

o Nutrition education and promotion is important to the program’s success

o Use free resources (see tab #8)

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• Allowable costs include:o Food items: Fresh fruits, vegetables and allowable dipso Non-food items:

• Napkins, plates, souffle cups, plastic eating utensils, cleaning supplies, serving bowls and trays

• Wages/salaries and benefits for employees who do tasks such as washing, chopping, preparing trays, delivering produce to classrooms, clean-up

• Wages/salaries and benefits for employees who assist with administrative management of the Program

• Purchasing or leasing equipment for FFVP, or repairing designated equip.

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• Unallowable Costs:o See food items in slides #17 and #18o Nutrition education materialso Promotional items (including postage)o Marketing materialso Travel costs (e.g., field trip transportation, mileage

reimbursement for picking up produce at a local farm)o Field trip activity costs

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• Program Oversight and Monitoringo Majority of funds are used to purchase fresh produceo Equipment purchases are carefully reviewed and prorated

(submit by Dec. 1, 2013)o Labor costs and all other non-food costs are minimalo Michigan SNP contact to monitor, keep in contact with

FFVP contacts

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• Support from your district and school administration is key

• Establish partnerships• Outside support, collaboration, and partnerships

have been essential elements of FFVP successo Examples of partnerships include: Farm to School, Community Health

Agencies, Extension agents, hospitals, local grocers

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Administrative ResourcesAdministrative ResourcesTab #4Tab #4

• Requiredo Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Need to include as part of

overall Food Safety SOPs; sample included in binder. Shows school has proper food safety procedures in place

o Production Records: Needed for each day of service; template included in binder. Proves that food ordered was actually used for Program

• Recommended o School Action Plan: Guides your whole program and timing; a sample

is in binder. Offers timeline and “To Dos” all in one place; increases likelihood of passing Administrative Reviews with no issues

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Administrative ResourcesAdministrative ResourcesTab #4Tab #4

• Best Practices: Helpful guides in binder

• Teacher Modeling: Encourage teachers to model eating these fruits and vegetables with a positive, open-minded approach; modeling makes a big difference!

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ClaimsClaimsTab #5Tab #5

• Claims are due within 60 days of the end of the calendar month, ideally by the 10th day of the following month

• Claims are submitted through MiND, Michigan Nutrition Data Systemo Child Nutrition Security Authorization Form must first

be completed to get access

• See tab #1 for a timeline of monthly submission deadlines

• See additional handout for claiming instructions

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ClaimsClaimsTab #5Tab #5

• Allowable and non-allowable expenses

• Justification of Large Equipment Purchase Formo Must be submitted to School Nutrition

Programs by December 1, 2013o Part of administrative costs (up to 10%

of total grant can be admin. costs)

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Claims: How to SubmitClaims: How to SubmitTab #5Tab #5

• Step 1: Log into the MiND Systemo Available via www.michigan.gov/meiso Click on the link MiND – Michigan Nutrition Data System in the Child Nutrition Programs

(CNP) sectiono You will need a valid MEIS login and password. If you don’t yet have one that includes

access for FFVP, please submit an updated Child Security Access Form. A copy is included in Tab #5 and available at the bottom of the MiND login page

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1. Select MiND

2. Log into

MiND


• Step 2: Navigate the MiND Homepageo Should list the total grant amount for your district (split into early grant and later grant

amounts), the payments received to date and the percent administrative cost vs. the total grant allocation

o If you detect discrepancies between MiND grant award totals and your award, please contact Adrienne

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• Step 3: Cost Item Maintenance – Entering FFVP Costso Select the school you wish to enter costs foro Select a cost item from description drop-downo Select applicable month of the cost (choose the month of the cost, not cost entry)o Enter corresponding cost of product or labor in the hours/rate or amount box; Click

“Add”o The entered cost will be listed in “Cost Items Waiting To Be Certified” section

• Level 2 users can add costs but can’t certifyo To modify a value, click “Edit”

• Make edit(s)• Click “Update”

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• Step 4: Certifying FFVP Costso Level 3 users are able to certifyo When “Certify” is selected, “Cost Items Waiting To Be Certified” section will be

transferred to “Cost Items Waiting To Be Approved” section

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• Step 5: Approval of Costso MDE will approve these items. If an item is not approved, this will be noted in a separate

section. o Payments are typically made on a weekly basis in the middle of the week

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Basic Budget ExerciseBasic Budget ExerciseTab #5Tab #5

• You’ll need: o School or district calendaro Calculator

• Budget exercise (done separately for each school):o Number of weeks in school year that you plan to operate FFVP:

___________________o Total grant amount: $ ________________o Total grant amount from #2 x 0.1: $_________________

This is the max amount you can spend on admin costs, including large equipment purchases

o Total grant amount from #2 x 0.9: $_________________ This is the approx. amount you’ll be spending on operating costs

o Operating cost amount from #4 $_____________ % (divided by) number of weeks operating from #1__________ = Approx. operating cost to budget per week $_____________ for this school

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Review ProcessReview ProcessTab #6 Tab #6

• Self-Monitoring Formo Due for each FFVP school by April 1, 2014o Will be requested during Administrative Reviews (not required to turn in)o Separated by required and recommended items

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Review ProcessReview ProcessTab #6 Tab #6

• FFVP Grant Recipients Up for Admin. Review in 13-14SY (tentative)o Alpena o Carrolltono Flint o Ioniao Lansing o Marvin L. Winans Academyo Owossoo Traverse Cityo William C. Abney Academy

• Administrative Review Checklist: Lists what will be requested off-site, on-site and how FFVP findings to be reported

• 2013-2014 Administrative Review Guidance Manual – Information Specific to FFVPo Shows exactly what State will be looking at when conducts Administrative Reviews

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Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked QuestionsTab #7Tab #7

• What happens if I’m running out of time and still have a fund balance towards the end of the year? o There are many ways to use up money in a manner that supports the intent of the Program.

Increase serving days, increase fruit/vegetable variety, increase exotic choices, even offer more than one choice per day. Contact Adrienne for additional ideas.

• Can I do an A-Z fruit and vegetable day? o While this is technically allowed, it is highly discouraged by Michigan School Nutrition

Programs. If available servings per student are excessive, claims may be denied. The goal of the Program is to offer fruits and vegetables throughout the entire school year, to the greatest extent possible (and to offer repeated exposures and varieties). Contact Adrienne if considering an event like this.

• How many times per week is service of fruits/vegetables required? o Schools are encouraged to offer fruits and vegetables as frequently as possible, ideally at least

2 times per week.

• Is nutrition education required?o For cooked vegetables, yes. Otherwise, it’s strongly encouraged. While FFVP funds can’t cover

the cost of nutrition education materials, there are many free resources available.

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Helpful ResourcesHelpful ResourcesTab #8Tab #8

• See tab #8 for a list of helpful resources. Farm to School and “Harvest of the Month” are two huge allies you can leverage!

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TipsTips

• If you have extra money, some ways to use it:o Buy more exotic fruits and vegetableso Offer fruits and vegetables more frequently (e.g., 5 days a week or even two fruits/vegetables

per day)

• Significant balances in mid-June will be considered when deciding final grant awards for following year; please use your money!

• Enter claims monthly • Offer fruits and veggies at least twice a week (strongly encouraged)• Try to offer at least one new type of fruit or vegetable per month• Use free educational materials• Look for outside partners

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Upcoming Info/DatesUpcoming Info/Dates

• Final claims for 2012-2013 SY due by August 30, 2013 • Conference or individual calls/e-mails with folks getting early

grant (TBD; coming very soon!)• Conference call for all interested in mid-September with 2+

date/time options• Conference call for FFVP districts with Admin Reviews this

year

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MDE FFVP ContactMDE FFVP ContactFFVP Program Consultant:

Adrienne Davenport, MPH, RDNE-mail: [email protected]

Phone: 517-241-1762Fax: 517-373-4022

General School Nutrition Contact Info: [email protected]

517-373-3347

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Documents

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Requirements Training Workshop 2013 – 2014 August 19, 2013 School Nutrition Programs Office of School Support Services