Increasing WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Redemption Rates: Results and Policy Recommendations.

BACKGROUND

WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) aims to increase consumption of fresh produce among Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) participants while supporting local farmers. Area stakeholders are addressing the existing barriers to FMNP use that keep participation low.

OBJECTIVES

Increase FMNP check redemption by participants in a Pittsburgh WIC office.

METHODS

Quasiexperimental design including cooking demonstrations, tours of FMs, and community garden visits. Program participation and check redemption rates were tracked.

RESULTS

The redemption rate of FMNP checks among research participants and nonparticipants was 46.5% and 39.0% (P < .001), respectively. Lessons learned point to needed changes on the local, state, and federal levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Barriers to the use of WIC FMNP checks were consistent with the literature. Allowing mobile markets to accept FMNP checks may address barriers to FM shopping while supporting the local farmer. Our stakeholder group continues to recommend multilevel policy changes to improve the redemption rate.