CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable $60 benefit at WIC centers - still available in 2025?
Hi everyone! I'm confused about the CalFresh fruit and vegetable benefit that used to be available at WIC centers/Mother's Nutritional Centers. We used to get $60 in free produce monthly with our CalFresh benefits, but my neighbor told me it stopped. Then I saw something online saying it got renewed or approved again? Does anyone know if this is still happening in 2025? I have 2 kids and that extra produce was so helpful for our family budget. The county office never picks up when I call and my EBT balance doesn't show anything special earmarked for fruits/veggies. Thanks for any help!
17 comments
Join the conversation
Aurora Lacasse
I think ur thinking of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program thats different from calfresh. WIC has that not calfresh
0 coins
Daniel Washington
•No, I'm definitely thinking of a CalFresh program. We got a special card from the county that we could only use at certain stores for fruits and vegetables. It was separate from WIC (we don't qualify for WIC anymore since my youngest is 5).
0 coins
Anthony Young
I just went to my recert appointment last week and they didn't mention anything about a $60 produce benefit. I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and never heard of this???
0 coins
Charlotte White
What you're referring to was actually the CalFresh Healthy Fruits and Vegetables Pilot Program that ran in several counties from 2020-2023. It provided $60 monthly supplements for qualifying families to purchase fresh produce. The program was scheduled to end in December 2023, but the California legislature approved an extension with modifications. As of 2025, the program has been renamed to "California Fresh" and now provides $50 monthly for produce, but ONLY in certain counties (Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Alameda, and Fresno). You need to specifically apply for this supplement through your county office - it's not automatic with regular CalFresh benefits. If you're in one of those counties, call your local office and specifically ask about the "California Fresh Supplemental Produce Benefit" enrollment. They may need to transfer you to a specialist who handles this program.
0 coins
Daniel Washington
•Thank you so much for explaining this! I'm actually in San Diego County, so that's great news. I'll definitely call about the California Fresh program specifically. $50 is still really helpful for my family!
0 coins
Admin_Masters
I tried calling San Diego County like 10 times about this program last month and NEVER got through!!! Just disconnects after 45 min on hold every single time. So frustrating! 😡😡😡 They need more workers answering phones!
0 coins
Matthew Sanchez
•You should try Claimyr - it literally saved me hours of frustration with San Diego County! You go to claimyr.com and they call the CalFresh office for you and when a real person answers, they connect you. I was skeptical but saw their video demo (https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8) and tried it when I needed to add my newborn to my case. Got through in about 20 minutes instead of calling for days. Definitely worth it for this produce benefit application!
0 coins
Ella Thompson
I'm on the California Fresh program in LA County! It's great but there's some rules you should know: 1. You MUST use the $50 each month or you lose it - doesn't roll over 2. You can only use it at approved stores (most major grocery chains participate) 3. You need to recertify for it separately from regular CalFresh every 6 months 4. It comes on a separate card from your regular EBT 5. Only for fresh/frozen fruits and vegetables - no canned stuff The application was pretty simple - just a one-page form and proof of residence in an eligible county. Took about 2 weeks to get approved and receive the card. Definitely worth applying!
0 coins
Daniel Washington
•This is so helpful, thank you! Do you know if farmers markets accept the California Fresh card too? We have a great one near us on Saturdays.
0 coins
Ella Thompson
•Yes! Most farmers markets accept it AND some give you bonus dollars when you use it there (like spend $10, get $15 in produce). Check with your local market - ours has a special booth where you swipe the card and get tokens to spend with vendors.
0 coins
Aurora Lacasse
my sister got this in sacramento but they said its for families with kids under 18 only. do u have kids? maybe thats why
0 coins
JacksonHarris
I work for a community organization that helps people navigate CalFresh benefits, and I want to clarify a few points about the California Fresh program (formerly the CalFresh Healthy F&V Pilot): 1. Eligibility requirements: Households must have at least one child under 18 AND receive at least $200 in regular CalFresh benefits 2. Application process: Unlike what some have mentioned, you don't need to recertify every 6 months - it follows your regular CalFresh certification period 3. Funding: The program is currently funded through December 2026, so it's stable for now 4. County expansion: They're evaluating adding 5 more counties in late 2025 (Santa Clara, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Contra Costa) If you're having trouble reaching your county office, an eligibility worker needs to process your application for this specific program. Be persistent and specifically ask for the "California Fresh Supplemental Benefit" by name when you call.
0 coins
Daniel Washington
•Thank you for these details! We get about $650 in regular CalFresh for our family of 4, so it sounds like we'd qualify. I'll make sure to ask for it by the correct name.
0 coins
Anthony Young
wait this is completely different from the Market Match program right? because i use that at farmers markets where they match like $10 of my ebt...
0 coins
JacksonHarris
•Yes, Market Match is a completely separate program! You can actually use BOTH programs together at participating farmers markets for maximum benefits. Market Match doubles your regular CalFresh dollars (usually up to $10), while California Fresh gives you a separate $50 specifically for produce. If your farmers market accepts both, you essentially get triple benefits!
0 coins
Julia Hall
This thread has been so informative! I'm a single mom in Fresno County with a 7-year-old, and I had NO idea this California Fresh program existed. We get about $280 in CalFresh monthly, so it sounds like we might qualify. The extra $50 for produce would be a huge help - fresh fruits and vegetables are so expensive! I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and ask specifically for the "California Fresh Supplemental Benefit." Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!
0 coins
Abby Marshall
•You should definitely qualify in Fresno County! Just wanted to add that when you call, if they seem confused about the program, you can also mention it might be listed in their system as the "CalFresh Healthy Fruits and Vegetables Supplemental Benefit" - some offices still use the old name. Also, don't be discouraged if the first person you talk to doesn't know about it - ask to speak with a supervisor or someone who handles special programs. Good luck!
0 coins