UC Cooperative Extension Explores a Farm-To-Wic Program (Report‪)‬

Author(s): Lucia L. Kaiser, UC Davis, Cathi Lamp, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Tulare County, Chutima Ganthavorn, UCCE Riverside County, Lucrecia Farfan-Ramirez, UCCE Alameda County, Tammy McMurdo, California Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, Marita Cantwell, UC Davis, Shermain Hardesty, UC Davis As interest in sustainable food systems has increased, farm-to-school and farm-to-institution partnerships have evolved to bring locally grown food to nearby communities. Changes in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) are now opening the door for new partnerships between local growers and WIC food outlets. Monthly cash-value vouchers allow participants to choose a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. To inform the possible development of a farm-to-WIC program by UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), we surveyed WIC participants on their produce preferences and buying habits.