WIC Fruit & Veggie Vouchers

The Los Angeles Times reported this week that fresh fruit and vegetables have been added to the list of foods subsidized by the federal government’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This marks the first major change to the program since its founding in 1974. According to the article, eligible families will now receive $14 per month for produce alone. The modifications, instituted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees WIC, will also allow recipients to use WIC funds for whole grains, canned beans, baby food, and tortillas. The USDA recommends that women eat at least two cups of fruit and vegetables per day.