Federal Grant Award Summary

Award Details: The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction received a $2.7 million Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (CFDA 10.582) for the period October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides cash grants to state agencies to procure and distribute free fresh fruits and vegetables to elementary schools with high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

Products and Services: Through this award, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction distributed fresh produce to 67 sub-awardee elementary schools, educational institutions, and community organizations throughout North Dakota, including rural school districts, tribal schools, BIA-operated schools, and non-profit educational entities. The program delivers free fresh fruits and vegetables directly to enrolled students during the school day while promoting nutrition education and introducing children to new produce varieties. Sub-awardees—ranging from small rural districts such as Anamoose Public School and Lone Tree School District to larger entities including Bismarck Public School District No. 1, Fargo Public Schools, and the Bureau of Indian Education—served as distribution points, with schools agreeing to serve the produce at no cost to all enrolled children and publicize availability within their school environments. The initiative targets elementary schools with the highest percentages of economically disadvantaged students, thereby addressing childhood nutrition needs in underserved communities across North Dakota.