WIC Food Package Opportunity

On August 1, 2009 Michigan WIC (Women Infants and Children Program) will implement a new food package policy. Changes are outlined on this web site http://tinyurl.com/cnbbva.

For those of us involved in SNAP-Ed this change presents a significant opportunity. Michigan WIC is only allowing fresh fruits and vegetables to be purchased with the new fruit and vegetable vouchers. They are also requiring that in order for stores to qualify as vendors for WIC they must carry two varieties of fresh fruits and two varieties of fresh vegetables. With over 4500 WIC vendors across Michigan this new requirement is sure to result in more stores having, at least some, fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of these stores will be in locations where fresh fruits and vegetables have not been available.

SNAP-Ed programs can take advantage of this improvement as an opportunity to cross-promote the new fruit and vegetable access with their WIC partners. By increasing awareness among SNAP recipients that these fresh products are available we can help drive more business to the vendor - which will be good for our programs - and we can encourage more consumption of fruits and veggies - which will be good for SNAP recipients.

Let's help make this a WIN-WIN.