A Description of Arizona Schools FFVP Service Related to Nutrition Education

Background: The USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides accessibility, variety, and nutrition education to increase exposure to fresh F/V to school children. The aim of this study examines Arizona FFVP’s nutrition education frequency and delivery in relation to the effects by the COVID-19 pandemic for SY 2019-2020, SY 2020-2021, and SY 2021 - 2022. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 57 Arizona school food managers (FSM) (and alike positions) (N=143; n=57; 18%(10) used Spanish; 82%(47) used English; FFVP site-level FSM = 81%(41); FFVP Non-FSM = 19% (11); 88% (50) rural; 12%(7) urban) during SY2019 – 2020, SY2020 – 2021, and SY2021 - 2022. Participants were surveyed for their perspective of FFVP service, nutrition education, and partnerships. The statistical analysis used quantitative and qualitative content variables presented as percentages. Results: Nutrition education were consistently delivered twice a week. FFVP service delivered most commonly 2 days/week (TF1 at 63% (26); TF2 at 59% (20),TF3 at 54% (19); TF 4 at 53% (19)). FFVP nutrition education was most frequently delivered 2days/week (TF1 at 55% (18); TF2 at 55% (18); TF3 at 54% (15); TF4 at 54% (20)). Teachers were most responsible for delivering nutrition education weekly in classrooms TF1 at 55%(21), TF2 at 44%(16), TF3 at 38% (15), TF4 at 45%. Most frequent method to select nutrition education was based on produce served that week (TF1 at 40% (23), TF2 at 36% (21), TF 3 at 39% (21),TF4 at 40% (24)) and day TF1 at 37% (21), TF2 at 36% (21), TF3 at 35% (19), TF4 42% (25). Conclusion: FSM and alike positions are important to FFVP services. Arizona FFVP schools were able provide consistent nutrition education even through a nationwide school closure caused by COVID-19 pandemic.