A U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) official recently visited Certified Farmers’ Markets in Sacramento and Davis to witness how USDA funding is utilized by the California Department of Food and Agriculture California Nutrition Incentive Program (CDFA-CNIP) to increase food access.
CNIP is made possible through a robust public-private funding structure – including state funds and federal funding through the USDA-NIFA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which is overseen by visiting USDA-NIFA Associate Director for Programs Dionne Toombs, Ph.D.
CNIP works by providing CalFresh shoppers with a dollar-for-dollar match to purchase California-grown fruits and vegetables. For example, at the Davis Farmers Market, a shopper may use up to $15 of CalFresh benefits and receive $15 in matching CNIP coupons. These can be used that day or later to purchase California-grown fruits and vegetables at the market. This program is often known as Market Match and operates at over 300 Certified Farmers’ Markets and small businesses throughout the state.
Dr. Toombs’ visit highlighted how shoppers and vendors are increasing the sale and consumption of healthy, California-grown fruits and vegetables through CNIP. In 2017-2023, $53 million of CalFresh dollars were spent on California-grown fruits and vegetables, including $29 million in CNIP incentives.
The 2025 CNIP request for proposals is accepting applications until October 11 from qualified entities to distribute nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers using their benefits to purchase California-grown, fresh fruits and vegetables at authorized Certified Farmers’ Markets, farm stands and small businesses. Visit https://cafarmtofork.cdfa.ca.gov/cnip.html for more information.