Association issues a statement in response to a House proposal to reduce WIC produce benefits
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) issued a statement after the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee voted to move forward its Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies funding bill on 5 June.
The bill reduces the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cash value benefit (CVB) by 10 per cent for fruits and vegetables in 2026 with the goal of an eventual slash in benefits from US$54 per month for women and US$27 per month for children, to a mere US$13 and US$10, respectively – a cut of almost 75 per cent.
“The committee’s proposed bill would cut US$100mn from WIC in 2026 and create a pathway to an eventual US$1bn reduction in fruit and vegetable benefits WIC provides for young children and pregnant and post-partum mothers,” IFPA outlined.
”On the heels of the president’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report that recognised the health effectiveness of WIC’s fruit and vegetable benefit, we are deeply troubled that the committee is choosing this path.
”These proposed cuts would have serious consequences for connecting farm-fresh produce to low-income women and children — populations already at increased risk for diet-related health disparities,” the association said.
“The current benefit amount is consistent with the 2017 National Academy of Science’s recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.
”As a result, young children participating in WIC have consumed more fruits and vegetables daily, while growers have experienced a wider variety of fruits and vegetables being sold through the programme than when the benefit was at lower amounts,” it added.
”At a time when nearly half of US children do not eat a daily vegetable, reducing WIC benefits would undermine national nutrition initiatives and contradict bipartisan efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, improve dietary quality, and support farmers.”
