TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher has announced that 202 New Jersey schools are participating in the 2021-2022 school year’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program — the highest number since the program began in 2008.
FFVP will be offered in 16 counties, including new additions Gloucester and Somerset, during the school day. Overall, there are 36 new schools in the program, which provides fresh produce to more than 100,000 students.
“The growth of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program helps ensure Jersey Fresh produce is finding its way to more and more schools, highlighting what we grow in the Garden State,” Fisher said. “This program aids districts in continuing to offer healthy choices to students so they can incorporate better habits that can have a positive impact throughout their lives.”
Eighty-four percent of the 202 schools have agreed to link their FFVP and Farm to School Program and additional funds have been allocated for those schools. The schools must provide Jersey Fresh produce a minimum of six days from September to November and from April to June and must verify where the produce was grown.
The following Essex County schools are participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the 2021-2022 school year:
- In Cedar Grove, Essex Junior Academy.
- In East Orange, Althea Gibson Academy, Benjamin Banneker Academy, Cicely L. Tyson Community Elementary School of the Performing and Fine Arts, Dionne Warwick Institute, Ecole Toussaint Louverture, Edward T. Bowser School of Excellence, Gordon Parks Academy, Garfield Jackson Academy, Johnnie Cochran Academy, Langston Hughes School, Madrasatu Ahlis Sunnah, Mildred Barry Garvin School, Sheila Y. Oliver Academy, Wahlstrom Academy, and Whitney E. Houston Academy of Creative and Performing Arts.
- In Irvington, Berkeley Terrace Elementary School, Florence Avenue Elementary School, Grove Street Elementary School, Mt. Vernon Avenue Elementary School and University Elementary School.
- In Newark, Maria L. Varisco-Rogers Charter School, Marion P. Thomas Charter Performing Arts & Culinary Academy, Marion P. Thomas Charter STEAM Academy, Elliott Street School, First Avenue School, Hawkins Street School, Mount Vernon School, Rafael Hernandez School, Salome Urena School, South Street School, Sussex Avenue Renew School, Newark Educators Community Charter School, KIPP Life Academy Charter School, KIPP Seek Academy Charter School, KIPP Spark Academy Charter School and KIPP Thrive Academy Charter School.
- In Orange, Lincoln Avenue School and Rosa Parks Community School.
- In West Orange, Washington Elementary School.
About the Author
