Support the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program

Why should USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FFVP) be expanded to my state?

• The USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program is currently successfully operating in 14 states: Utah, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Texas, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, North Carolina, Washington, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.

• Providing children with fresh fruit and vegetable snacks during the school day, has been proven to be a model for increasing children's consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables, decreasing their purchase of soda, chips and candy.
• The FFVP is good for farmers because schools will be able to purchase fresh, locally grown produce.

If you would like to see the FFVP expanded to your state, send a letter to your U.S. Senators. Simply follow the two steps below.

1. Using the sample letter below, draft a letter or an email to your U.S. Senator. Please be sure to edit all of the highlighted parts in the sample letter including the date, your U.S Senator’s name and address, your state, and your name.
2. To send the letter or an email to your U.S Senator, go to http://www.senate.gov/ and select your state in the search menu located in the top right hand corner of that page.

SAMPLE LETTER

INSERT DATE

The Honorable YOUR U.S. Senator

ADDRESS

Dear Senator NAME:

I am writing to ask for your support in expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program, to our students in STATE.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program works and will help STATE’s children and farmers! The program has proven to immediately increase children's fruit and vegetable consumption, improve their health, and transform the school environment by providing healthy food choices. STATE farmers will benefit because schools will be able to purchase fresh, locally grown produce.

 

As you know, over the last two decades, obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in adolescents. Poor eating habits of children contribute to the increased likelihood of their developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. This program will help children reach the goal of 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day by exposing them to new and different foods. Through the simple addition of fresh fruit and vegetable snacks during the school day, this program is helping to transform schools into models of healthy behavior and improved learning environments.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. For the benefit of STATE children and farmers, I hope you will support the expansion of this program to STATE.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME