IFPA responds to House proposal to reduce WIC produce benefits

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2025 – The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) BB #:378962 issued the following 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 June 5.

The bill reduces the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cash value benefit (CVB) by 10 percent for fruits and vegetables in 2026 with the goal of an eventual slash in benefits from $54 per month for women and $27 per month for children, to a mere $13 and $10, respectively – a cut of almost 75 percent.

“The committee’s proposed bill would cut $100 million from WIC in 2026 and create a pathway to an eventual $1 billion reduction in fruit and vegetable benefits WIC provides for young children and pregnant and post-partum mothers. On the heels of the president’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report that recognized 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 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 program than when the benefit was at lower amounts. At a time when nearly half of U.S. 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.”

About the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA)
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) is the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. We exist to bring the industry together to create a vibrant future for all. We grow our members’ prosperity by conducting advocacy, connecting people and ideas; and offering guidance that allows us all to take action with purpose and confidence. IFPA represents member companies from small family businesses to the largest international corporations throughout the global fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations.