Table 1.

Summary of Identified Federal, State, Local, and Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) Examples of Fruit and Vegetable Subsidy Policies and Programs

Program/Policy	Target Populations	Transfer Mechanisms*	Locations for Redemption	Examples (Types of F&V Subsidized)
Federal fruit and vegetable subsidy programs	‐WIC participants ‐Low‐income seniors ‐SNAP participants	‐Paper voucher/coupon ‐Rebate on EBT card	‐Farmers’ markets ‐Farmers ‐Roadside stands ‐WIC‐eligible retailers ‐Community‐supported agricultural programs ‐SNAP‐eligible retailers	USDA FMNP (fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs; may be required to be locally grown in some states)
Federal and state (including DC) bills and laws provide funding to supplement federal food assistance programs	SNAP, WIC, FMNP, SFMNP, Medicaid, TANF, and SSI participants	Generally, appropriations bills; transfer mechanisms not specified	‐Farmers ‐Farmers’ markets ‐Roadside stands ‐Community‐supported agriculture programs ‐SNAP retailers	Maryland AGRICULTURE Code Ann. § 10‐2001‐10‐2005 (2017) (matches fresh fruit and vegetable purchases made with FMNP, SNAP, and WIC benefits at participating farmers’ markets throughout the state)
Multistate, state, local, and NGO fruit and vegetable subsidy programs	‐SNAP participants ‐WIC Participants ‐SFMNP participants ‐Participants receiving federal benefits (SNAP, WIC, TANF, SSI Disability, Medicaid, Medicare, Senior Grocery Plus [commodity supplemental food program]) ‐Patients at certain health care locations ‐Patients diagnosed or at risk for a diet‐related chronic disease ‐Seniors ‐Low‐income persons, especially: • formerly incarcerated • diagnosed or at risk for a diet‐related chronic disease ‐SNAP participants, especially: • pregnant and postpartum women • those who receive less than $200 a month • children ‐Whole population (focus on low‐income communities)	‐Paper coupon/voucher ‐Electronic voucher/  gift card ‐Electronic discount ‐Token/wooden coins ‐Store loyalty card ‐Voucher check ‐EBT card rebate ‐EBT card discount ‐Cash‐register‐generated coupons ‐Reduced‐price produce box ‐In‐kind produce ‐Electronic wallet	‐Farmers’ markets/stands ‐Retail store • Grocery • corner store • specific chain ‐Mobile vendors/markets ‐Cooperative ‐Community supported agricultural locations ‐Food hub ‐Food pantry	Washington, DC's Produce Plus is available to participants in federal food programs, whereby eligible DC residents receive voucher checks (with no prior qualifying purchase) to be redeemed at farmers’ markets for fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, or cut herbs
State bills and laws that provide a tax exemption for F&Vs	‐Consumers ‐Manufacturers ‐Wholesalers ‐Retailers ‐Vendors ‐Grower‐sellers	Exemption from state taxes otherwise imposed	‐Farmers’ markets ‐Retail establishment open markets ‐Roadside stands ‐Producer‐owned retail food cooperatives	Virginia Code §§58.1‐609.2, 3.2‐4738 (2011) (sales tax exemption to individual who grows and sells “agricultural produce,” which means fruits and vegetables, at local farmers’ markets and roadside stands)

Acronyms: DC, District of Columbia; EBT, electronic benefit transfer; FMNP, WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program; SFMNP, Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program; SNAP, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; SSI, Social Security income; TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; USDA, US Department of Agriculture; WIC, The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

^*Sometimes a combination of mechanisms are utilized—for example, exchanging a voucher for a token at a farmers’ market or using the EBT card to obtain a voucher.