CNP fresh fruits and vegitables

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service awarded the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education $4.896 million on October 1, 2025, under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (CFDA 10.582) for the period ending September 30, 2026.

The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to elementary schools with high percentages of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. DESE, as the state agency, selected eligible elementary schools based on their free and reduced-price meal eligibility percentages and entered into agreements with school food authorities to operate the program according to federal requirements.

The recipient, DESE, passed through sub-awards to 28 Massachusetts municipalities, cities, school districts, and charter schools including Brockton, Holyoke, Brewster, Winchendon, Orleans, Springfield, Northampton, Eastham, Salem, Hadley, Haverhill, Acushnet, Barnstable, Lynn, Fall River, Truro, Montague, Lowell, Petersham, Boston, Fitchburg, Wellfleet, Tisbury, Marlborough, New Bedford, Milford, Chelsea, and Waltham, as well as charter school operators including Holyoke Community Charter School, Bridge Boston Charter School, Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School, Pioneer Charter School of Science, and Pioneer Charter School of Science II. These sub-recipients delivered free fresh fruits and vegetables to eligible elementary school students during the school day at participating schools.