New Moms, Toddlers Eligible For More Fruits, Veggies In Pasco

PASCO COUNTY, FL — The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is now providing an increased dollar amount for fruits and vegetables through September.

The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County encourages families to sign up for WIC benefits as soon as possible to take advantage of these increased benefits while they are available.

"Many people who think their families won't qualify are surprised to learn that they are, in fact, eligible for WIC," said Jennifer Parker, public health nutrition program director for DOH-Pasco. "Others think they will be taking benefits away from those who may need it more, but that's not the case."

Existing enrolled families will not lose or receive reduced WIC benefits if the number of enrolled families increases, she said. Funding for WIC benefits will increase to meet the need as more eligible families are enrolled.

Eligible WIC participants include women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or recently postpartum, and children under the age of 5.

On March 12, the American Rescue Plan Act authorized state WIC agencies to enhance the WIC benefit for a period of four months, expanding the fruit and vegetable dollars from $9 a month for children and $11 a month for women to $35 per month per participant.

WIC's vegetable and fruit voucher is known as the Cash Value Benefit. The CVB is credited with improving the diets of WIC participants and reducing childhood obesity among WIC toddlers.

Florida WIC will began implementing the CVB increase June 1 and will continue the increase until Sept. 30.

All women and children who participate in the WIC Program will receive an increase in their fruits and vegetables cash voucher to $35 per participant per month.

For example, a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old child will receive a total of $70 credit on their WIC EBT card to use on fruits and vegetables per month from June to September. Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, frozen or canned. Any brand, variety, size, with no added sugar, syrup, artificial sweeteners, fat or oil can be obtained. Organic fruits and vegetables are allowed as well.

For more information on enrollment and eligibility for the WIC Program at the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County, call 1-877-BEBY (1-877-942-2329).

For more information about DOH-Pasco, visit Pasco.FlordaHealth.gov.