The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application for School Year 2024–25 is open in WINS!
The FFVP provides a fresh fruit or vegetable snack to elementary school students and is an effective and creative way to introduce fresh produce as a healthy snack option. Funds are awarded to the highest free and reduced-price (FRP) percentage elementary schools. We invite all schools that meet the eligibility requirements to apply for this program.
There are two requirements for eligibility:
- 50% or more of the students enrolled in the school must be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
- The school must meet the definition of an elementary school.
The application deadline for participation for school year 2024–25 is April 30, 2024.
Please review the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application School Year 2023–24 bulletin for more details on the application process. An official bulletin for the School Year 2024–25 FFVP will be released soon.
Application Process
Your application will be submitted using the Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS).
Questions? Please email Rachel Floyd or call 360-742-4155
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The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is required to annually notify Local Education Agencies (LEAs) of their district-wide eligibility to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The SY 24–25 CEP Eligibility Report will be posted soon and estimates both the district-wide and an individual school’s Identified Student Percentage (ISP) using information from the Comprehensive Education Data and Research System (CEDARS) as of April 1, 2024.
Washington Integrated Nutrition System (WINS) will be open for CEP applications on May 3, 2024. The deadline to submit CEP applications in WINS is June 30, 2024.
CEP State Requirements
HB 1878 Requirements
State law (House Bill (HB) 1878) requires participation in CEP for all schools with an ISP of 40% or greater.
State Funding supplements Federal Funds in Schools with ISP of 40% or Greater
The state legislature also provides state funds to CEP schools with an ISP of 40% or greater. When a school’s Free Claiming Percentage (the ISP multiplied by 1.6 (federal multiplier)) is less than 100%, state funding will supplement federal reimbursement so that all meals served are reimbursed at the federal free rate. Please note that WA State supplemental funds will only be provided to CEP school(s) with an overall ISP of 40% or greater.
The CEP: Increasing Options for Schools Final Rule lowered the minimum ISP to 25%. However, state supplemental funds do not cover individual schools or groups that operate CEP with an overall ISP less than 40%. LEAs are encouraged to review their data and determine if it’s financially viable for the district to operate CEP with an ISP between 25–40%.
Join us for a Webinar!
The CEP webinar will review the new Final Rule, requirements, application process, and include guest speakers from LEAs currently implementing CEP.
Register for the CEP Webinar
Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024
Time: 2–3:30 pm PT
Questions? Please contact your Program Specialist or email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released SP 14-2024: Paid Lunch Equity Guidance for School Year 2023-24 and the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) Tool for SY 2023–24. The tool is now available on the NSLP Materials & Requirements webpage (under the 'Financial Management' dropdown)!
PLE Tool Information
The PLE tool is used to determine the weighted average paid lunch price, the new paid lunch price, or amount of non-federal funds that must be contributed to the non-profit school food service account. When completing the PLE Tool for SY 2024–25, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) should use pricing/sales data from October 2023 and the weighted average price requirement from the SY 2023–24 PLE Tool. If your LEA did not complete the SY 2023–24 PLE Tool, the SY 2023–24 Price Calculator tab should be completed within the tool.
Reference the PLE Tool Instructions document for more information on completing the tool.
PLE Requirements
USDA will offer an exemption from PLE pricing requirements to programs with a positive or zero balance in the non-profit school food service account as of June 30, 2023. LEAs operating CEP district-wide or RCCIs with no day students are also exempt from PLE requirements.
LEAs that had a negative balance in the nonprofit school food service account as of June 30, 2023, must follow PLE requirements and complete the PLE Tool for SY 2024–25. To meet the PLE requirements, LEAs must choose one of the following options:
- Raise paid lunch prices (the maximum required price increase is $0.10)
- Contribute non-Federal funds in lieu of raising paid lunch prices
- Split the costs by raising paid lunch prices AND contributing non-Federal funds
Questions? Please contact your Program Specialist or email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
State law (House Bill (HB)1508) requires Breakfast After the Bell (BAB) in high-need schools. High-need schools are defined as any public school where at least 70% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals; or, if operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), the school has a free claiming percentage of 70% or more.
All Local Education Agencies (LEAs) required to implement BAB in SY 2024–25 must submit a BAB Implementation Plan by May 10, 2024. Each required LEA received a unique link to submit their BAB Implementation Plan. Implementation Plans must include the planned meal service models and point-of-service meal counting systems.
If your LEA has concerns with meeting the BAB requirements, please contact SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us by May 10, 2024 to discuss how BAB can be incorporated and/or options for an exemption.
Recorded Training in Canvas!
The Breakfast After the Bell training reviews requirements, implementation plans, reminders, and next steps. All LEAs that are new to BAB for school year 2024–25 are required to complete BAB training prior to the start of the school year. A BAB recorded training is now available in Canvas! If a representative was unable to attend the live webinar, the Canvas training certificate of completion must be submitted for approval with the 2024–25 BAB Implementation Plan.
To access the BAB webinar in Canvas:
1. Enroll in the SMP Canvas Training Course using this link. If you haven’t yet created a Canvas account, you will be asked to do so. If you are already enrolled in the course, skip to step 2.
2. Visit the page for the BAB webinar. (If you aren’t yet enrolled in the course, you will receive an “Access Denied” error message. See step 1, above.)
3. Bookmark the SMP Canvas Training Course page or your Canvas Dashboard to return to the course later.
Resources
Questions? Please contact your Program Specialist or email SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
Program operators offering the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) during the 23–24 school year are encouraged to join us for monthly webinars!
We will discuss annual program requirements, new policy guidance, important reminders, and provide an opportunity for you to ask questions. Webinars are scheduled for the first Thursday of every month.
Register for the School Meal Programs Monthly Webinars here!
Dates: Monthly through June 2024
Time: 3–4pm PT for April and 2–3pm PT for May & June
Please note: You only have to register once and you will receive updates and reminders for each webinar.
Reminders
- Save us on your calendar! When you register, there is an option to add us to your calendar at the bottom of the confirmation email.
- A reminder email with your link to log into the webinar is sent one hour before the session starts.
- Follow up emails with a copy of the slides are sent to everyone registered for the session, even if they did not attend.
- We do not post recordings to the CNS webpages.
- Please keep an eye out in your inbox for these emails, if you do not see them in your inbox check your spam or junk folders.
Have topic suggestions for a future monthly webinar? Email suggestions to SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us
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Northshore School District recently featured new scratch-made recipes on their menu, including Salmon, Chicken Tamales, and more!
 Vancouver School District has been incorporating Local Food for Schools (LFS) items onto their menu through menu items like Beef Birria and a Wild Rice Bowl with Bison, Roasted Veggies, and Wojape Sauce! Wojape Sauce is a traditional Native American sauce made with indigenous berries, like chokeberries or blueberries, mixed with water and sweeteners.
 Oh my gourd! - Bainbridge Island School District processed 1,000 pounds of winter squash purchased from Bainbridge Island/Suyematsu Farm to make their popular Coconut Chicken Curry a monthly menu staple!
 Thank you to Northshore SD, Vancouver SD, and Bainbridge Island SD for their work to incorporate scratch-made, culturally inclusive recipes on their menus!
We want to see the great things that your LEA is doing to promote scratch cooking, local foods, and culturally inclusive menu planning! Share your stories and pictures with us by emailing SchoolMeals@k12.wa.us.
Congratulations to the following LEAs!
Asotin-Anatone School District
Burlington-Edison School District
Chehalis School District
Chief Leschi Tribal Compact
Coupeville School District
Mount Adams School District
Palisades School District
Paschal Sherman Indian School
Prosser School District
San Juan Island School District
Sedro-Woolley School District
Tonasket School District
Trinity Catholic School
About the Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant
The Breakfast Meals for Kids Grant, funded by the Washington State Legislature, provides competitive grant funds for public school districts, tribal compact schools, and charter schools. Funds may be used to start a new meal program, increase participation and/or quality in an established meal program, or improve the equipment and facilities used in an established meal program.
Please visit the CNS Grants webpage for more information and other grant opportunities!
Harvest of the Month – Beets
To support sponsors in integrating local foods into your meals, OSPI is excited to feature Harvest of the Month resource sheets. Each month we will highlight one local food that will be in season the following month. The resource sheets will include fun facts, nutritional information, selection and storage tips, recipe ideas, and educational resources.
For the month of May, we are featuring beets. Check out all our Harvest of the Month info sheets and other Farm to School resources on our Farm to School webpage.
Thank You to Farm to School Census Respondents!
Every four years, USDA surveys more than 18,000 participating school food authorities (SFAs) through the Farm to School Census. This survey is conducted in all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia and represents the most comprehensive dataset of its kind. Responding to it requires the hard work of school food directors, State agency staff, and Farm to School partners.
The USDA will publish the 2023 Farm to School Census Report this fall. The report will tell the story of how the use of local food products is progressing nationwide and will help schools, partners, advocates, producers, and policymakers understand how SFAs are doing their part to support vibrant local food systems and contributing to student experiences at school.
OSPI and USDA wants to thank our sponsors who played a crucial role in the Census!
Grants and Other Opportunities:
The WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant is a competitive reimbursement grant available to school districts, childcare centers, and summer meals providers for the purchase and use of Washington-grown foods in child nutrition programs. For more information, visit the WSDA Farm to School Purchasing Grant webpage or contact the Farm to School Purchasing Grant Program at farmtoschool@agr.wa.gov.
$1M in total funding available for nonprofits, public schools, and tribes. Is your organization working towards food justice for kids in the United States? If so, this is your chance to receive up to $100,000 in grant funding over the next 2 years and deepen your impact! The Newmans Own Foundation is seeking applications from organizations working in two priority program areas:
WA SNAP-Ed may be able to purchase up to $5,000 in kitchen equipment and supplies + pay for consultation and training with a professional chef for your site! Equipment and supplies should support scratch cooking and/or storing fresh food from local producers.
Who can participate? Any SNAP-Ed eligible institution including schools, school districts, ECEs serving at least 50% of youth eligible for free or reduced priced meals.
Interested? If your institution is interested, please complete the initial interest survey.
You will be contacted within 2 weeks of the survey submission with further information. Please note this is not a grant. Selected sites will not be receiving funds directly to purchase kitchen equipment/supplies, but rather working directly with WA SNAP-Ed to receive requested items.
Timeline & Details: This opportunity is available until September 2024. Selected sites must participate in a culinary training by September 15, 2024.
Questions? Contact Shannon Bachtel at Shannon.Bachtel@wsu.edu.
First Nations - 2024 Native Farm to School Project – Applications due April 30, 2024!
First Nations is requesting proposals from eligible entities interested in serving as Consulting Project Partners for their 2024 Native Farm to School Project.
Twelve Consulting Project Partners will receive $25,000 in grant funding, technical assistance, and training to expand Farm to School programming, enhance education curriculum, and engage new supply chain partners.
To be eligible for the Native Farm to School Project, Consulting Project Partners or CPPs must be a Native controlled entity and one of the eligible entities listed below.
- Federal- and State-Recognized Tribal Governments
- Native-controlled 501(c)(3) nonprofits
- Native-controlled community organizations with fiscal sponsorship
- Native 7871 Organizations
Learn more at: https://www.firstnations.org/rfps/native-farm-to-school/
May will be the last delivery month for this year and September will be the next available delivery. Please consider your USDA Foods needs when planning your orders.
May orders open Wednesday, April 3, and will close Wednesday, April 10, at 4 pm.
Surplus orders will open Thursday, April 11, at 1pm for groups 1–2, at 1:30 pm for groups 3 and 2 pm for all other groups. Surplus closes Friday, April 12, at 4 pm.
For more information on your group number, please review the SY 2023–24 Order and Delivery Schedule.
Ordering
The Ordering and Receiving webpage has multiple resources to assist you in placing your order, including instructions and an order and distribution schedule.
Questions? Please email the Food Distribution Office or call 360-725-6204.
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April 3–10
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May Foods Order Period Open in CNP Web
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April 11
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School Meals Monthly Webinar | 3–4pm
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April 11–12
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May USDA Foods Surplus Order Period Open in CNP Web
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April 13
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WSNA Spring Workshop
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April 15
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March Claims Due by 5pm
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April 18
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CEP Webinar | 2–3:30 pm
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April 29
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February 60-Day Claim Deadline—if you haven't already, submit your claim
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April 30
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Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Application Closes
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