The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is designed to improve the overall diet quality of school children by providing healthful foods and helping children learn more healthful eating habits. FFVP reimburses selected elementary schools with high rates of free and reduced-price meal enrollment for providing fresh fruits and vegetables to students during the school day, outside of normal school breakfast and lunch meals.

As part of this authorizing legislation, the Secretary of Agriculture was tasked with conducting an evaluation of FFVP. Abt Global Inc. and its partner, the Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health at the University of California, Berkeley, conducted the evaluation for the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).