Washington’s Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program

The Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program (FVIP) helps families on limited budgets afford more fruits and vegetables and encourages healthier eating. Since 2015, the Washington State Department of Health, state, and local partners have implemented a variety of fruit and vegetable incentives to make healthy food more affordable for low-income families in Washington.

History

With initial support from a $5.8 million U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant (2015-2020), the Washington State Department of Health and dozens of state and local partners developed and tested fruit and vegetable incentive programs with farmers markets, grocery stores, and healthcare systems.

To continue the programs started under the FINI grant, the Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program was established by Substitute House Bill 1587 in 2019. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 43.70.780 authorizes the Department of Health to administer the Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program, and definitions and rules for the program are available in Chapter 246-770 WAC. Continued support from state, federal, and private funding allows the FVIP to continue operating.

Interested in supporting the Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program? Email us at FVIP@doh.wa.gov to learn more.

Programs

SNAP Market Match

At more than 115 participating Washington farmers markets and farm stands, shoppers who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called Basic Food in Washington, get extra benefits to spend on fruits and vegetables.

For more information, visit: SNAP Market Match.

SNAP Produce Match

At participating grocery stores, shoppers who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), called Basic Food in Washington, get extra benefits to spend on fruits and vegetables.

For more information, visit: SNAP Produce Match.

SNAP Produce Rewards

Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services are testing a new pilot program to make buying fruits and vegetables even easier for people who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Washington. Shoppers who use SNAP benefits to buy allowable fruits and vegetables from participating pilot retailers can get up to $50 per month put back onto their SNAP electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.

For more information, visit: SNAP Produce Rewards.

Fruit and Vegetable Prescriptions (Rx)

At select health care sites and public health agencies, health care providers prescribe fruits and vegetables to patients who are food insecure and have, or are at-risk for, a chronic disease. The prescription is used like cash to buy fruits and vegetables at Safeway stores in Washington. Fruit and Vegetable Rx are currently offered by 23 partner organizations.

For more information, visit Fruit and Vegetable Prescriptions.

Fact Sheets

Reports

Data

Contact

For more information, email us at FVIP@doh.wa.gov or call 360-236-3148.

Stay up to date with the Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program by subscribing to our newsletter. Look for Fruit and Vegetable Incentives Program under Prevention and Community Health (PCH).

A portion of this material is based upon work that is support by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2023-70415-41067.