{"id":2734,"date":"2026-03-12T23:07:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T23:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/CDFAInspectionServicesBlog\/?p=2734"},"modified":"2026-03-12T23:13:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T23:13:50","slug":"governor-newsom-announces-more-than-23-million-to-increase-access-to-farm-fresh-food-for-calfresh-wic-and-senior-farmers-market-nutrition-program-recipients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cdfa.ca.gov\/CDFAInspectionServicesBlog\/index.php\/2026\/03\/12\/governor-newsom-announces-more-than-23-million-to-increase-access-to-farm-fresh-food-for-calfresh-wic-and-senior-farmers-market-nutrition-program-recipients\/","title":{"rendered":"Governor Newsom announces more than $23 million to increase access to farm-fresh food for CalFresh, WIC, and Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program recipients"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CDFA nutrition incentives are accepted at this California Certified Farmers’ Market to double the amount of fruits and vegetables for nutrition benefit clients, as noted on the flyer in the foreground. The funding announced today will continue such nutrition incentives. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Office of Governor Newsom News Release<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you need to know:<\/strong> California is investing $23 million to help connect California grown fresh food to Californians who qualify for CalFresh, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Newsom today announced that California is continuing its national leadership in bringing fresh and healthy California grown fruits and vegetables to tables across the golden state. Through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Office of Farm to Fork, California is connecting locally grown food to eligible Californians who qualify for benefits through the CalFresh, Women Infants and Children (WIC), and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

California continues stepping up to ensure that every Californian has access to locally grown fruits and vegetables. We\u2019re supporting our farmers, strengthening local markets, and connecting families with fresh, nutritious produce\u2014improving health outcomes while keeping food dollars in our communities.<\/em>
Governor Gavin Newsom<\/strong><\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the country\u2019s top agricultural producer and creator of the nation-leading Farm to School program, California is proud to continue expanding access to our nutritious fruits and vegetables for kids and families across the state. We are thrilled to invest in the Golden State\u2019s farmers and communities to ensure everyone has the opportunity to eat healthy and every kid has the best start in life.<\/em>
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom<\/strong><\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connecting farmers to families <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The state\u2019s investments empower eligible Californians<\/a> to increase their consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. CalFresh shoppers can benefit from the program simply by spending their benefits at participating Certified Farmers Markets throughout the state and other retail outlets. For every dollar spent by eligible Californians, they will receive an additional dollar that can be spent on fruits and vegetables at the market or retail outlet, within set parameters, increasing their ability to purchase and consume healthy, California-grown fresh fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families. The projects will also support California\u2019s vibrant farming communities selling at participating markets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

California\u2019s investments help address food insecurity among low-income Californians while simultaneously supporting and expanding markets for California farmers. Past investments have been shown<\/a> to have a positive effect on the local economy, with every dollar in incentives generating three dollars in local economic activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incentivising Farm-to-Fork <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California is distributing approximately $21.5 million to increase the purchase of California-grown fresh fruit and vegetables by CalFresh shoppers at 12 projects across the state. Current nutrition incentives support CalFresh shoppers at more than 280 locations throughout California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards will allow grantees to sustain incentive distributions and benefit the farmers and shoppers participating in the program at 303 participating Certified Farmers\u2019 Markets, Community Supported Agriculture programs, mobile markets and small retailers across California through spring 2027. The 12 grantees range in location, size and operations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across the state, the Office of Farm to Fork\u2019s investments are connecting Californians to locally grown affordable food, while the Ecology Center works with over 50 organizations and operates at over 290 Certified Farmers\u2019 Markets in 38 counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An additional 11 projects will receive $1,700,000 in total grant awards<\/a> from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP) and the Senior Farmers\u2019 Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10 of the grantees will distribute nutrition incentives and provide technical support at 121 Certified Farmers\u2019 Markets in the following 19 counties across California: San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Mendocino, Lake, Butte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Lassen and Modoc. One grantee will focus solely on providing technical assistance for WIC FMNP and SFMNP nutrition incentives that utilize electronic FMNP Farmers\u2019 Market Cards at nine certified farmers\u2019 markets in the Bay Area. A detailed list of grantees and project descriptions for the 2026 CNIP Expansion Grant is available on the CNIP webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNIP is administered by CDFA\u2019s Office of Farm to Fork<\/a>, which leads CDFA\u2019s food access work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on California\u2019s success fighting hunger with access to healthy food <\/h2>\n\n\n\n