Northern Fruit & Vegetable Program
The Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program is a unique program in Ontario that provides 2 servings of vegetables and/or fruit per week to students to try with their peers (JK to Grade 8). The program's main goal is to increase students' exposure to various vegetables and fruit, and food literacy. Exposure to new foods includes not only eating the food but being around the food or others enjoying the food. Research has shown that the more exposure children have to a variety of vegetables and fruits, the more likely they are to eat and enjoy those foods later in life (even if they dislike them now)!
The goal is accomplished through two components:
- From January to June, participating schools receive weekly deliveries of vegetables and fruits from the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association.
- The program also provides schools with educational materials for use in the classroom as well as resources to send home to parents to assist our communities in building healthy habits. The educational materials and resources include:
This includes vegetable and fruit fact sheets, recipes, and a calendar that provides corresponding educational activities with each week’s fruits and vegetables deliveries. Schools are encouraged to send a copy of this resource home to parents.
This includes details on each educational activity recommended in the NFVP Activity Calendar. Also includes a sample/template for NFVP school newsletter.
Funds are provided to help schools administer the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program. These funds can be used to cover the cost of supplies, honorariums for program volunteers, and any costs related to the implementation of related educational resources.