NC SchoolNutrition Administrator:

It’s official! North Carolina’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) application season for the 2018-2019 School Year (SY) is now open! Please keep reading…

***If none of your district's eligible elementary schoolsplan to apply to participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) for the2018-2019 School Year, please e-mail that decision to Zoe McKay-Tucker at as soon as possible. Thank you, and if not for the coming year, hopefully the option to apply to participate in the FFVP will be reconsidered in the future.***

For districts with eligible elementary schools interested in applying to participate in the FFVP for the coming school year, may this e-mail serve as the “announcement” that the FFVP application season for the 2018-2019 SY has begun. The FFVP application information for the 2018-2019 SY is available on the NCDPI's School Nutrition website. See the section labeled "How to Apply - SY 2018-19" to access the following documents:

  1. FFVP School Proposal Questions (Word document)
  2. Instructions for Completing the FFVP Online Application
  3. Guidance for Completing NC’s FFVP Application (housed in the School Nutrition Technology System)
  4. Required FFVP Signature Page Form (to be submitted to the NCDPI)
  5. Required"Number of Days FFVP Operates Weekly" Form (to be submitted to the NCDPI)
  6. 2018-2019 FFVP Application Process Timeline
  7. Checklist for the 2018-2019 FFVP Application

Thank youfor reading allof the2018-2019FFVP application-related documents and share with others. In addition, please review the USDA Fresh Fruit & VegetableProgram- A Handbook for Schools, December 2010because all of the information about the FFVP is not included inNC's application information.The Handbook is available on the School Nutrition website as well as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program page of the USDA/FNS website (select FFVP Resources).

There are two (2) important FFVP application deadlines to note:

1) March 22, 2018, 11:59 PM
Deadline forcompleting and savingtheFFVP online application in theSchool Nutrition Technology System (SNTS). Note: there is no "Submit" tab; remember to "Save" what you type and the information will be stored. No faxes or e-mails accepted.As a pleasant reminder which became effective last year, for School Food Authorities thatcompleted a FFVP application for school(s) the year prior, the School Proposal responses roll over. So, for FFVP applications completed for the 2017-2018 SY in the School Nutrition Technology System (SNTS), the responses to the School Proposal questions have rolled over to the 2018-2019 FF&VP application. Note: we have Janet Johnson, Assistant Chief for the School Nutrition Services Section, to thank for such a time saver!!!If a school applied for the 2017-2018 SY and will apply for the 2018-2019 SY, the application for the 2018-2019 SY must be “opened” (see Instructions for Completing the FFVP Online Application), and simply re-read the responses, tweak to ensure the information is correct and current, and click on “Save” so all will be stored in the SNTS. Additional note: remember that a school’s FFVP online application must be “opened” (click on Add/Modify) and “Saved” for the SNTS to recognize that the school is applying for the coming year and the application is to be considered. This is not an “automatic” process!!! An “unopened” FFVP online application will not be recognized as a school that is applying for the FFVP. For clarification, please call Zoe.

2) March 29, 2018, by 5:00 PM
Deadline for submitting the FFVP Signature Page(s)and the"Number of Days FFVP Operates Weekly" formwith all required signatures in BLUEink to the NCDPISchool Nutrition Services officein Raleigh. No faxes or e-mails with electronicsignaturesaccepted. Remember to send the required FFVP application documents to the NCDPI via a reputable source with trackability and keep your receipt(s) indicating guaranteed delivery date.

What You ShouldKnow...

  • The FFVP Signature Page(s) and the "Number of Days FFVP Operates Weekly" form are the only twoFFVP application documents that must bereceived in the NCDPI School Nutrition Services Office by 5:00 PM on Wednesday, March 29, 2018 for the applying school's FFVP application to be complete and considered.
  • The FFVP Signature Page (one per applying school) and the "Number of Days FFVP Operates Weekly" form (one form per LEA) are requiredfor each FFVP application completed online in theSNTS.

If you have questions or need clarification, contact Zoe McKay-Tucker, School Nutrition Consultant for Special Programs at or 919-807-3517 for assistance.

Thank you for the consideration of applying for a nutritious opportunity for elementary school students in NC!