Northern Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program: a process evaluation.

PURPOSE

A process evaluation was conducted of the Northern Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (NFVPP), a government-funded health promotion initiative. The objectives were to determine how the program was implemented and to identify program facilitators and challenges.

METHODS

Facilitators and challenges in the implementation of the free fruit and vegetable snack program were assessed through qualitative interviews with school-level stakeholders (i.e., food preparers, teachers, and principals) and tracking wasted produce. The implementation of an enhanced nutrition education (ENE) component was assessed through a teacher survey.

RESULTS

School-level stakeholders saw the NFVPP as a valuable program. Key facilitators included teacher role-modelling and sufficient funding for supplies and personnel. Key challenges included produce delivery, quality, wastage, and variety. The ENE component was minimally implemented.

CONCLUSIONS

The study identified program strengths and areas that could be improved. As a result, changes were made to how the NFVPP was implemented in schools the following year. The use of qualitative methods enabled program planners to understand the program implementation process.