Project Grant 266UT372L1603

The Utah State Board of Education received a $3.64 million Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Child Nutrition Division under the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (CFDA 10.582) effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This federally-assisted nutrition initiative provides cash grants to state agencies for procuring and distributing free fresh fruits and vegetables to elementary schools with high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program. The program's primary objectives include introducing children to fresh produce varieties, increasing overall consumption of unprocessed fruits and vegetables, and promoting nutrition education in economically disadvantaged school communities.

The Utah State Board of Education distributed the grant funding through 26 sub-awards to eligible elementary schools and school districts across the state, including public school districts (Davis, Weber, Canyons, Jordan, Alpine, Garfield County, Box Elder, Tooele, South Sanpete, and Ogden City School Districts), charter schools and academies (Esperanza Elementary, Monticello Academy, Dual Immersion Academy, Davinci Academy, American Preparatory Academy–Draper, Ogden Preparatory Academy, Ascent Academies, Pacific Heritage Academy, Wallace Stegner Academy, Leadership Learning Academy, and Freedom Academy), and community-based educational organizations (Guadalupe Schools and Carbon School District). Each sub-grantee school selected based on free and reduced-price meal eligibility percentages agreed to serve fresh produce at no cost to all enrolled children while publicizing availability within the school environment, in accordance with federal program requirements.