Take Action! Tell Governor Newsom to Fund the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension

Published on Jun 12, 2023 in CalFresh, State Legislation

We are excited to share that the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension budget request was included in the joint Legislative budget bills (AB 101 & SB 101) at $9.9 million one-time funding. Nourish California and SPUR would like to thank Legislative leaders, especially Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins, Senate Budget Committee Chair Nancy Skinner, Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon, and Assembly Budget Committee Chair Phil Ting for supporting this urgent proposal.

We also thank supporters of the budget request for making your voices heard. Your advocacy means we are one step closer to ensuring the state increases investments to boost CalFresh benefits to help mitigate the harm caused by the CalFresh benefits cliff. Together, we've also moved the program one step closer to becoming a permanent supplement to CalFresh. Thank you.

We would also like to thank Assemblymember Arambula and Senator Wiener for their leadership on the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension, and for their ongoing commitment to improving food access for Californians with low income.

What’s next?

Now is the time to take action. Governor Newsom needs to hear from you!

We need your help to ensure the final budget approved by the Governor includes funding for the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension. Negotiations are happening now — don’t wait, make your voice heard and support increasing CalFresh benefits today.

1) Call and/or Email Governor Newsom

Governor Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841

Call and leave a message using the handy script below. Or email the Governor through his office’s online comment portal:

Link to the online portal: https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
Select “Budget May Revision 2023-24” in the dropdown menu.
Then “Leave a Comment” then click the “Next” button.
Click “Pro” for position, then leave your full message, using the template at the below for the body of your message.
Both individuals and organizations are welcome to comment, so please do share this call to action with interested partners, colleagues, friends, and family!

Sample script:

Hi, my name is _____ and I live in ______. I’m calling/emailing to urge Governor Newsom to support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension in the final state budget package. This urgent and impactful investment will boost CalFresh benefits to help people afford the foods they need and want to stay healthy. It will also support California farmers and grocery retailers. Please include funding in the final state budget. Thank you. [Or choose one or more of the following reasons or tell them your own]

CalFresh benefits were recently cut. Funding the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension will help families afford the foods they need. Please support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension in the state budget.
The CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension will help reduce the harm households are facing due to the CalFresh benefits cut.
No one should go hungry in the great state of California. Food is an essential part of a full and healthy life. The CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension is a “win-win-win” that reduces hunger, improves public health, and boosts California’s economy.

2) Show your support on social media!

Tweet or post your support and tag Governor Newsom(@CAGovernor).

Sample tweets:

Thank you for funding the CalFresh Fruit & Veggie Pilot extension in the #CALeg #CABudget @SenToniAtkins @NancySkinnerCA @Rendon63rd @PhilTing. will boost CalFresh benefits immediately without any extra forms or hassle for participants. Please support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension! Please ensure funding is included in the final budget @CAGovernor!

Support the CalFresh Fruit & Veggie Pilot Extension to address the hunger cliff, improve health, and support California's economy. Plz include in the final #CABudget @CAGovernor!

The CalFresh Fruit & Veggie Pilot Extension will bolster households' food budgets immediately and ongoing. Thank you @SenToniAtkins @NancySkinnerCA @Rendon63rd @PhilTing for including funding in the #CALeg #CABudget! The state must use every option to reduce the harm of the CalFresh cuts. Plz include funding in the final budget @CAGovernor!

3) Add your organization to our budget sign-on letter.

Click here to read our coalition budget sign-on letter. To add your organization in support of funding the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension, please email your organization's logo to jared@nourishca.org. Thank you!

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 Pilot in 2018. Since the pilot was funded, the number of Californians relying on CalFresh has risen by over one million individuals. California can respond to the need for more nutrition assistance by building on the recently launched pilot.

We applaud Assemblymember Arambula and Senator Wiener for their leadership to boost CalFresh and move a major step closer to a statewide supplement benefits program. We need your help to show broad support to the Governor. You can support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Pilot Extension by joining our campaign and taking one or more of the actions above today!

Questions? Contact: Jared Call at jared@nourishca.org.