Some American families could receive an extra $60 a month to buy fruits and vegetables if a bill introduced in Congress that seeks to expand access to healthy foods beyond traditional food assistance recipients succeeds.
The initiative, called the Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act, was presented on July 2 by Democratic Representative for Washington, Pramila Jayapal, and was recently sent to the House Agriculture Committee for review and possible modifications. The goal is to help low- and middle-income households address the rising cost of fresh foods and improve their food security.
If approved, the program would allow households with incomes equal to or less than 80% of the area median income to receive $60 per month exclusively for the purchase of fresh, frozen or dehydrated fruits and vegetables. Herbs and plants could also be purchased to grow fruits or vegetables, according to the text of the proposal.
Unlike other federal programs, aid would not be limited only to those already receiving food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The project contemplates two groups of beneficiaries, people who already receive SNAP benefits, who would get the additional $60 loaded to their EBT card, and households that meet the income requirement, but do not currently participate in SNAP. In those cases, they would receive a new EBT card to exclusively access the benefit of the pilot program. Income limits would vary depending on the cost of living in each region.
If approved, the benefit would not be automatically available throughout the country. The legislation proposes creating a grant program for states to request federal resources and launch the pilot. Those who demonstrate higher levels of food insecurity and present strategies to serve the most vulnerable communities will have priority.
Jayapal explained that the initiative takes as a reference the Fresh Bucks program, implemented in Seattle, whose results showed a significant improvement in access to healthy foods.
“As families struggle to put food on the table, Congress must prioritize efforts to reduce costs and help Americans get ahead,” the legislator said when presenting the proposal.
According to data released by Jayapal's office, the Seattle program increased food security among participants by 31% and increased the regular consumption of fruits and vegetables, results that are now seeking to be replicated on a national scale.
For now, the Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act is in an early stage of the legislative process. After its presentation, it was sent to the Agriculture Committee of the House of Representatives, where it can be analyzed, modified and eventually put to a vote. If it passes that stage, it must be approved by the full House, the Senate and, finally, promulgated by the president to become law.
