Issue: National data on the diets of U.S. children and adolescents indicate they are consuming more fat and saturated fat than recommended while their intakes of fruits and

vegetables fall well below recommended levels. The

increasing prevalence of obesity in these age groups adds

to concern about the quality of their diets. Schools can be

a venue for promoting healthful eating habits among youth

not only because of the schools’ ongoing influence in children’s daily lives, but also because of the considerable

Federal investment in USDA child nutrition programs such

as the National School Lunch Program and the School

Breakfast Program. 

Background: To promote fresh fruit and vegetable consumption among the Nation’s schoolchildren, the Nutrition

Title of the 2002 Farm Act provided $6 million for USDA

to award to schools through a Fruit and Vegetable Pilot

Program for the 2002-03 school year. The pilot provided

fresh and dried fruits and fresh vegetables free to children in

107 elementary and secondary schools—100 schools in 4

States (25 each in Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio) and 7

schools in the Zuni Indian Tribal Organization in New

Mexico. The pilot funds were allocated to each school on a

per student basis of $94 per student. The intent of the pilot

was to determine the feasibility of such a program and students’ interest in participating. As requested by Congress,

the Economic Research Service conducted an evaluation of

the pilot. The evaluation was based on an analysis of

monthly administrative school reports, December reports,

February reports, site visits to schools, focus groups, interviews, and a conference of pilot program managers, other

pilot staff, and policy stakeholders.

Findings: The major findings from this study are:

Acceptability of the Pilot: The pilot was popular among

most students, parents, school teachers, principals, pilot

managers, foodservice staff, and State representatives. Of

the 105 schools reporting on feasibility, 100 schools

thought that it would be feasible to continue the program

beyond the pilot if funding were continued. Schools

reported that 80 percent of students were very interested in

the pilot and 18 percent were somewhat interested, and 71

percent of the schools believed that students’ interest had

increased during the pilot period.

Key Factors in Pilot Implementation: Four key factors

contributed to the success of the pilot. First, the level of

cooperation, communication, and commitment among

principals, teachers, foodservice directors, and other staff

was high, perhaps partially because principals and foodservice directors applied voluntarily to participate in the

pilot. Second, the level of support and partnerships with

States and other nonschool partners was also high. Third,

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Economic 

Research

Service

Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report Number 34-14 August 2003

WIC School

meals

CACPF General

The USDA Fruit and

Vegetable Pilot

Program Evaluation

Food Assistance Research Brief

Jean C. Buzby, jbuzby@ers.usda.gov, (202) 694-5370

Joanne F. Guthrie, jguthrie@ers.usda.gov, (202) 694-5373

Source: Nov. and Dec. 2002 monthly administrative reports.

Fruit:

Vegetables:

Dried fruit:

28

19

10

49

16

12

31

21

Raisins 12

Mixed dried fruit

Dried berries

Precut mixed vegetables

Celery

Carrots

Oranges

Precut mixed fruit

Apples

Apples, carrots, and dried berries top list 

for food expenditures

Percent of total cost of category
2 Economic Research Service / USDA

The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program Evaluation / FANRR-34-14

the flexibility of the pilot allowed each school to develop

its own implementation plan, work out problems, have

broad involvement among teachers and other school

staff, and reach its own solutions. Schools could choose

when, where, and how they wanted to implement the

pilot and could select the mix and quantities of pilot

foods to offer students. Fourth, there was ample funding

for the pilot, which allowed schools to provide higher

quality fruits and vegetables, value-added products, such

as pre-sliced items or individually packaged products

(e.g., bagged baby carrots), and condiments (e.g., dips to

accompany vegetables).

Cost Considerations: Some schools were not spending all

money granted to them ($94 per student), largely due to

the time needed to start and implement the pilot. Some

schools initiated the pilot in October 2002 while others

started as late as January 2003. Even if schools had fully

implemented the pilot the entire school year, funding for

the pilot for the 2002-03 school year would have been

ample. However, many schools said that the 10-percent

cap requirement on paying nonfood costs (e.g., administrative costs necessary to implement the pilot, such as

extra labor, storage, and equipment) out of grant money

was too restrictive.

Nationwide expansion of the program at a level comparable to that of the pilot would cost an estimated $4.5 billion, based on an average cost of $94 per student and a

count of 48.2 million children in public schools in 2001.

Costs would be higher if private schools also participated.

These estimates do not include the costs and burden for

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)—the agency

responsible for implementing the pilot—or for State

departments of education and health to administer and

support an expanded program. Costs could be lower if all

schools offered fruits and vegetables only once a day.

Information Sources:

Buzby, Jean C., Joanne F. Guthrie, and Linda S. Kantor.

Evaluation of the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot

Program: Report to Congress. U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

E-FAN-03-006, May 2003. www.ers.usda.gov/

publications/efan03006

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services. Fact Sheet:

Nutrition Services. From CDC’s School Health Policies

and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000. Accessed at:

www.cdc/gov/nccdphp/dash/shpps/factsheets/pdf00/

nutrition.pdf. March 13, 2002.

U.S. General Accounting Office. Fruits and Vegetables:

Enhanced Federal Efforts to Increase Consumption Could

Yield Health Benefits for Americans. GAO-02-657. July

25, 2002.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,

religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Additional information is available at:

www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/childnutrition

The current Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is administered by USDA's Food and

Nutrition Service (FNS). For information about child nutrition program participation, contact

the State agencies that administer the program.