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CN Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, July 2020 - Dec. 2021
Research, Analysis & Background
January 2024 Keydata Report
Nutrition Assistance Programs Keydata Release
Resource | Policy Memos FY 2024 Food and Administrative Funding for TEFAP

The FY 2024 TEFAP funding memorandum provides guidance on full-year food and administrative funding allocations.

04/23/2024
Resource | Comment Request RFI: Food Price Data for State of Hawaii

USDA requests comments from the public—including the food industry and research community—to help inform future policy and decisions about potentially updating Thrifty Food Plan cost estimates for the State of Hawaii.

01/19/2024
Resource | Policy Memos Procuring Local Meat, Poultry, Game and Eggs for Child Nutrition Programs

Recently, FNS has received a number of questions related to buying local meat, poultry, game, and eggs; this memorandum seeks to clarify the regulatory requirements related to food safety and answer specific questions related to these products with a series of questions and answers.

SP 01,CACFP 01, SFSP 01-2016
11/20/2023
Resource | Grants Farm to School State Formula Grant

The FNS announces the "Farm to School State Formula Grant" established by the American Rescue Plan Act.

 

11/01/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Procuring Local Foods

The resources on this page will help ensure child nutrition program operators have the resources and knowledge necessary to incorporate local foods into their day-to-day operations. 

10/30/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Farm to School Resources

Find resources to implement, sustain and maintain your farm to school program. 

10/30/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance Serving Traditional Indigenous Foods in Child Nutrition Programs

FNS has a variety of resources to assist CNP operators in determining how traditional Indigenous foods may contribute toward a reimbursable meal.

10/30/2023
Resource | Technical Assistance & Guidance FY 2022-24 WIC FMNP eSolution Grant Summaries

Since FY 2022, FNS has awarded over $9 million in grants to 37 State agencies to support WIC FMNP eSolutions.

09/26/2023

Improving the Shopping Experience

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Icon of shopping cart with check mark

We want WIC families to be able to shop simply and conveniently, just like other shoppers. FNS is supporting WIC state agencies as they modernize the shopping experience in store, online, and at farmers markets, through both funding and waivers.

See below for more information.

 

Key Activities

Expanding Online Shopping

Giving WIC families the ability to shop for food online will make participating in WIC easier and more attractive to busy families. Therefore, it is one of the ways USDA FNS is working to improve nutrition security.

In FY 2020, FNS awarded a cooperative agreement to the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition (GSCN) to develop and test WIC online shopping through state agency-led projects. These projects began rolling out in FY 2024.

On Feb. 29th, GSCN released the second-round WIC Online Shopping Sub-grant Project Request for Proposals (RFP). We encourage all WIC state agencies interested in implementing WIC online shopping projects to apply. Proposals are due by May 9th at 5 PM CT. For more information on this opportunity, visit GSCN’s WICShop+ website.

Over the next three years, GSCN will provide additional subgrant opportunities to state agencies. GSCN will also create resources to support streamlined implementation of online shopping using lessons learned from current projects. Resources will include project planning and implementation documentation, technical resources, and trainings. GSCN released an updated version of the Blueprint for WIC Online Shopping Projects in January 2024, and plans to release additional updates on a continual basis.

Visit the Gretchen Swanson Online Shopping Grant website for more information.

Related Resources

Expanding Access to Farmers’ Markets

Like SNAP, WIC also offers benefits that can be used at farmers markets. We want WIC families to know their local farmers markets and become lifelong customers. WIC families can access farmers markets in two ways: through the annual Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefit or through the monthly WIC cash value benefit (CVB).

FMNP is a relatively small program with a limited annual benefit. Since 2022, we have provided about $9 million in grants to help 37 FMNP state agencies move from paper coupons to eSolutions (i.e., EBT or mobile pay). This change will make market shopping easier for everyone – families, farmers, market managers, and state agencies. It will also ensure that the program can continue into the future.

We are also encouraging WIC state agencies to authorize farmers and farmers markets to redeem the WIC CVB so that families can shop for more foods each month in local markets. Through the FY 2023 WIC Modernization grants, 24 state agencies are working on projects to allow WIC CVB at farmers markets.

Related Resources

Improving the In-Store Experience

FNS is working to make it easier to shop with WIC benefits in store. State agencies are currently using grant funding to implement and expand self-checkout, work with stores to improve customer service, provide shopping-related resources for families with limited English language skills, expand the variety and choice of foods available, and make it easier to find WIC-approved items in the store.

In FY 22, FNS awarded $10,984,203.91 to 21 WIC state agencies to tackle the WIC shopping experience from every angle—from improving in store signage and cashier training, to working toward online shopping. In FY 23, FNS awarded $100,000,000 in WIC Modernization grants to state agencies; this money can also be used to fund shopping projects, including testing mobile pay in WIC. FNS is also exploring the in-store shopping experience through a contract and expects to provide tools and resources to state agencies.

Related Resources
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Summary

We want WIC families to be able to shop simply and conveniently, just like other shoppers. FNS is supporting WIC state agencies as they modernize the shopping experience in store, online, and at farmers markets, through both funding and waivers.  

Page updated: April 23, 2024
Resource | Fact Sheets Farm to School Fact Sheets

Factsheets are available under the following topics: Farm to School Grant Program, Farm to School Program Resources, Local Food Resources, School Gardens, Farm to School in Tribal Communities, Food Safety, Producers, Farm to Preschool. Farm to Summer, State Agencies and Cooperative Extensions, En Español.

08/29/2023
Page updated: May 01, 2024