The Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program (NFVP) is now serving up fresh fruit and vegetables to the elementary students in the District of Thunder Bay! Since 2006, the NFVP has been wildly successful with children in the northeastern region of Ontario, and as of May 2018, the program expanded to our region!
Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and distributed by the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association, this program provides students from JK to grade 8 twice-weekly servings of fresh fruit and vegetables, starting in January and running until the end June. Close to 15,000 students in 78 schools from Thunder Bay to Manitouwadge to Fort Severn and every elementary school in between will be enjoying fresh fruit and veggies during the winter and spring months!
In addition to serving healthy snack options, the NFVP aims to encourage active living and making healthy lifestyle choices to complement the education curriculum. The resources offered can be used both in the schools and at home, helping our communities build healthy habits.
Below you will find information and resources to help integrate the NFVP into your school and community.
Please also see our FAQs below or contact the program lead if you have any questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 2021 program will include service to all of these schools, beginning January 18, 2021:
First Nation Community Schools
Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek School – Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek First Nation
Chief Simeon Mckay Education Centre – Kasabonika First Nation
John C. Yesno Education Centre – Eabametoong First Nation
Johnny Therriault Memorial School – Aroland First Nation
Mary Ann Aganash Memorial School – Kingfisher Lake Fist Nation
Migizi Wazisin Elementary – Long Lake #58 First Nation
Netamisakomik Centre for Education – Pic Mobert First Nation
Nibinamik Education Centre – Nibinamik First Nation
Reverend Eleazar Winter Memorial School – Wapekeka First Nation
Simon Jacob Memorial Centre – Webequie First Nation
St. Ann – Fort William First Nation
Wasaho First Nation School – Fort Severn First Nation
Lakehead Public School Board
Algonquin Avenue School
Armstrong Elementary School
C.D. Howe School
Claude E. Garton School
Crestview School
École Elsie MacGill School
École Gron Morgan School
Five Mile School
Gorham and Ware School
Kakabeka Falls School
Kingsway Park School
McKellar Park School
McKenzie School
Nor'westerview School
Ogden Community School
Sherbrooke School
St. James School
Valley Central School
Vance Chapman School
Westmount School
Whitefish School
Woodcrest School
Thunder Bay District Catholic School Board
Bishop E.Q. Jennings Senior Elementary
Bishop Gallagher Senior Elementary
Corpus Christi School
Holy Cross School
Holy Family School
Our Lady of Charity School
Pope John Paul II Senior Elementary
St. Ann School
St. Ann School - Fort William First Nation Site
St. Bernard School
St. Elizabeth School
St. Francis School
St. Jude School
St. Margaret School
St. Martin School
St. Paul School
St. Pius X School
St. Thomas Aquinas School
St. Vincent School
Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales
École catholique Franco-Terrace
École Notre-Dame-de-Fatima
École catholique Val-des-Bois
École secondairecatholique de la Vérendrye
École St-Joseph
Notre-Dame-des-Écoles
Keewatin-Patricia District School Board
Upsala Public School
Superior-Greenstone District School Board
B.A. Parker Public School
Beardmore Public School
Dorion Public School
George O’Neill Public School
Manitouwadge Public School
Margaret Twomey Public School
Marjorie Mills Public School
Nakina Public School
Schreiber Public School
Terrace Bay Public School
Superior North Catholic District School Board
Holy Angels Catholic School
Holy Saviour Catholic School
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
St. Edward Catholic School
St. Hilary Catholic School
St. Joseph Catholic School
St. Martin Catholic School
Conseil scolaire public du Grand Nord de l'Ontario
École publique Franco-Manitou
No. Each school board/authority receives funding that is allocated to each school. All costs for supplies for the program should be covered.
Funding is provided to train one person at each school to receive the Safe Food Handling Certificate, preferably the School NFVP Coordinator. To learn more please email NFVP@tbdhu.com.
No. With parental/guardian consent, students from Grade 5 - 8 complete a short, 15-minute post-program survey at school in June. The survey measures the change in children’s attitude and behaviour toward produce, and their fruit and vegetable knowledge.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) works in collaboration with the Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) to bring NFVP to your school.
Menu
Fruit and vegetables served through the NFVP from January - June include:
Apples
Applesauce cups
Broccoli florets
Carrot sticks
Clementines
Grape tomatoes
Mini cucumbers
Pears
Sugar snap peas
NFVP Resources
Coming Soon!
For Further Information
If you have a question about the Northern Fruit & Vegetable Program, please contact Victoria Pullia, Program Lead, at (807) 625-5962 or Toll-Free at 1-888-294-6630 or email NVFP@tbdhu.com.