Vegetable and Fruit Increase Provides More Nutritional Access to WIC Families
WIC has an unprecedented opportunity to improve access to fruits and vegetables for Washington State’s low-income families. From June through September, the American Relief Plan Act more than doubles WIC’s cash value benefit for fruits and vegetables, to $35.00 per participant.
On March 12, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act authorized State WIC Agencies to enhance the WIC benefit for a period of four months, expanding the vegetable and fruit voucher from $9/month for children and $11/month for women to $35/month per participant. WIC’s vegetable and fruit voucher – known as the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) – was first introduced in 2007 as part of a decades-long effort by the National WIC Association (NWA) to increase the nutritional quality of WIC-approved foods. The CVB is credited with improving the dietary quality of WIC participants.
Washington WIC will be implementing the temporary 4 month CVB increase beginning June 1, 2021.
Find out if you are eligible for WIC:
There are over 200 WIC clinics across Washington State. To find a WIC clinic near you:
- Call the Help Me Grow WA Hotline 1-800-322-2588
- Text “WIC” to 96859
- Visit ParentHelp123’s ResourceFinder
Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association, issued the following statement in response:
“With far too many families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic to afford the healthy foods that help grow healthy children, this temporary boost to the WIC benefit is an investment in our nation’s future,” said Rev. Douglas Greenaway, President & CEO of the National WIC Association. “Increased access to vegetables and fruits is a critical step toward ensuring that children have access to vital nutrients, curbing childhood obesity rates while strengthening our local farm economies. In communities across the country, WIC is ready to help as parents continue to navigate the COVID-19 crisis.”