By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

The WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Program can be a helpful source of healthy food for low-income pregnant and post-partum women, infants, and children up to age 5. It includes many options for vegans.

     Many states participate in the WIC Famers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). The program currently operates in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 6 Indian Tribal Organizations; however, it is not always available in all areas of a state. This program was created to benefit both WIC participants and local farmers. Women, infants (over 4 months old), and children (1 to 5 years old) that have been certified to receive WIC benefits or who are on a waiting list for WIC are eligible to participate in this program, although some states may not provide farmers’ market vouchers for every participant category.  If your state has this program, you can receive special coupons (Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons) in addition to your regular WIC benefits. These coupons can be used to buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers, farmers’ markets, or roadside stands that have been approved by the state agency to accept FMNP coupons. Some states only allow these coupons to be used to buy specific foods grown in the state to encourage recipients to support farmers in their own state. Look for a sign – Farmers’ Market Coupons Accepted – to find a farmer who participates in the program. When you’ve chosen your fruits and vegetables, give the farmer your coupon. No change is given so you may be encouraged to choose more produce if your selection is less than the amount on the coupon. Each state decides the amount of this benefit. Typically, it is between $10 and $30 per year per eligible family member although some state agencies add additional funding.

     In addition to Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons, some states also allow you to use the vouchers for fruits and vegetables that you receive as a part of your WIC package at some farmers’ markets. These Cash Value Vouchers are issued monthly and provide eligible women with $11 per month and eligible children with $8 per month to purchase fruits and vegetables.  These vouchers are a part of the WIC package in all states although only some states allow them to be redeemed at specified farmers’ markets. 

     To see a list of states and other entities that participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program go to  https://www.fns.usda.gov/contacts?f[0]=program%3A30  

     Contact your state WIC agency for more information about using the Cash Value Vouchers at farmers’ markets. A list of state agencies’ contact information is available at https://www.fns.usda.gov/contacts?f%5B0%5D=program%3A32