TAKE ACTION: Tell California’s Budget Leaders to Keep CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Benefits
Published on Feb 3, 2025 in CalFresh, State Legislation
For the second time in a year, CalFresh participants are at risk of losing benefits that help make healthy food more affordable. As of December 2024, 55,000 CalFresh households were earning a total of $2.5 million in rebates each month when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables through the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program. The program was so successful that it was forced to pause for lack of funds on January 31, 2025. As a result, Californians with low-income are losing up to $60/month for fresh fruits and vegetables – which will make it even harder to buy the food they need at a time of historically high food prices.
The legislature and governor need to put at least $63 million in this year's state budget to serve even more people and help them afford more healthy food for at least 12 more months.
Action Items
We need your help to ensure that CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable benefits continue for the tens of thousands of families that depend on the program. Our state leaders need to hear from you!
Decisions about whether the program will receive funding to continue operating will be made between now and the end of June — don’t wait, make your voice heard and support increasing CalFresh benefits today.
1) Sign our Petition to State Budget Leaders
Use our Action Alert link to add your name to the petition.
2) Send an Email to your Legislator
Use our Action Alert link to email your state Assemblymember and Senator.
3) Call Your Legislator and Key State Leaders
- Find your CA representative and locate their phone number here (Assembly) and here (Senate)
Key Leaders
- Governor Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841
- Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire (916) 651-4002
- Senate Budget Committee Chair Scott Wiener (916) 651-4011
- Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas (916) 319-2029
- Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jesse Gabriel (916) 319-2036
Sample call script:
Hi, my name is _____. I'm a constituent and would like to leave a comment. I urge [Assemblymember or Senator's name] to support funding in the state budget to keep the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program alive. Specifically, I want them to support Assemblymember Alex Lee's request for $63 million dollars so the program can help make healthy food more affordable for California families for at least 12 more months and help more people. [A sentence about why the program is important to you] Can I count on your support for keeping the Fruit and Vegetable EBT program going? Thank you for passing along my comment.
Background
CalFresh helps more than five million people put food on the table. But federal benefit levels limit purchasing power, especially in the face of California’s relentlessly high cost of living. For the majority of CalFresh participants, benefits do not last through the whole month.
Recognizing the potential for supplemental benefit programs to fight hunger and support California's economy, the state funded the Fruit and Vegetable EBT program in 2018, 2023, and 2024. The program provides 75,000 CalFresh participants with up to $60 a month in rebates when they buy fresh fruits and vegetables with their CalFresh benefits. The program was providing a total of $2.5 million in food assistance across the state each month.
The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program has been a great success, but is being forced to pause. Due to the program's popularity, the funding for it has, once again, run out.
We need the Legislature and Governor to include at least $63 million in the state budget to keep the program going for 12 months and to help more California families. That's only 0.027% of the overall state budget. This program is cost-effective, efficient, and critical. At a time of tight budgets – for both the state and millions of Californians – it's an investment that is absolutely worth continuing.
You can support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Program by joining our campaign and taking one or more of the actions above today!
Questions? Contact: Eli Zigas at ezigas@fullwell.us
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