Topic Category: CalFresh

CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program prioritized in the final budget

Posted on by Michelle Lee

CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program prioritized in the final budget

Published on Jul 13, 2026 in CalFresh

**mensaje en Español abajo**
(haga clic aquí para ver)

Updates on the 2026-27 State Budget

On June 29, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature signed the 2026-27 state budget, which included $20 million to bring back the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. 

In a year deeply impacted by harsh cuts to CalFresh as a result of H.R. 1, this win is a testament to the program’s value in helping families put nutritious food on the table, as well as to the tens of thousands of community members who advocated for the program. Thank you to all who raised their voice in support – in partnership, we succeeded this year in keeping the program alive.

The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program allows families participating in CalFresh to earn an additional $60 per month in food benefits when they purchase fresh produce with their CalFresh EBT card at participating retailers. The program helps Californians stretch their food budgets to better afford food, as even before H.R. 1, CalFresh benefits oftentimes didn’t last families through the full month. The program also provides participants the opportunity to better prioritize their health when they do their grocery shopping and incorporate more fruits and vegetables in their daily life. Because the program’s demand outpaced its available funding, it paused in June 2026.

Nourish California and Fullwell, who co-sponsored the budget request to restart the program, are grateful to Governor Newsom, our legislative champions Assemblymember Alex Lee and Senator Scott Wiener, our additional legislative supporters — Senator Laura Richardson, Assemblymember Corey Jackson, Senator Caroline Menjivar, and Senator John Laird — and the broader Legislature for investing in proven policy solutions that help people get the food they need and want. The $20 million investment in the state budget is a significant win, especially since it comes at a time when our safety net programs are being threatened by federal policy shifts. While the federal government is cutting benefits, our state must continue to proactively invest in programs like the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Program that allow Californians to access the food they want and need.

Assemblymember Lee and Senator Wiener originally co-championed a $100 million budget ask that would have allowed the program to run uninterrupted for a full year and expand to additional regions across the state. Based on program participation trends, we estimate that the $20 million will support the program’s operations for 3 to 4 months. While we acknowledge that this investment is only a fraction of what is needed to keep the program active year-round, we are excited that it will be able to continue bringing fruits and vegetables within reach for hundreds of thousands of Californians.

While the program is currently turned off, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will coordinate with program implementation partners to identify an official restart date. More updates to come soon!

Next Steps

Our advocacy isn’t over yet! While we are excited to see this program restart, we plan to continue advocating for long-term funding so that the program can operate on a year-round basis and expand to reach families all across the state. In California, where we grow a majority of the nation’s fruits and vegetables, no one should go hungry. Stay tuned for ways to be more involved!

Ways to Take Action

updated July 13, 2026

Please join us in thanking our state leaders for their investment in the program! Your story is incredibly valuable — it helps legislators understand the program's impact and can help influence future state funding decisions. 

Take any (or all) of the steps below to share about how important the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is for you!

1) Call State Leaders (it only takes 10 minutes!)

Call these seven offices:

Sample Call Script: 

Hi, my name is _____. I am calling to thank [Legislator's name] for their support in including $20 million in the state budget for the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. This important program reduces hunger and improves health by helping families put nutritious food on the table. [A sentence about why the program is important to you]. I ask [Legislator’s name] to prioritize funding the program in future years so that it can continue making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable. Thank you for passing along my comment.

2) Send a "Thank You" Email 

Use our Action Alert link to email key budget leaders about the importance of the program. 

3) Stay Connected with Us

Sign up for our updates to stay in the loop about ways to support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Program.

4) Survey – Coming Soon!

We’ll be launching a survey this summer to learn more about your experience advocating alongside us, and want to hear about other ways you’d like to be involved. More information is coming soon!

ACTION CENTER
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

El programa CalFresh Fruits and Vegetables EBT recibió prioridad en el presupuesto final

Novedades sobre el presupuesto estatal 2026-27

El 29 de junio, el gobernador Gavin Newsom y la legislatura de California firmaron el presupuesto estatal 2026-27, el cual incluía $20 millones para que vuelva el programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT.

En un año profundamente afectado por recortes severos a CalFresh como resultado de la H.R. 1, esta victoria da fe del valor del programa para ayudar a las familias a llevar alimentos nutritivos a la mesa, así como del compromiso de los miles de miembros de la comunidad que lo defendieron. Gracias a todas las personas que alzaron la voz en apoyo. Como aliadas, hemos logrado que este año el programa se mantenga vivo.

El programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT permite que las familias que participan en CalFresh obtengan $60 adicionales en beneficios de alimentos cuando compran productos frescos con su tarjeta CalFresh EBT en las tiendas participantes. El programa ayuda a los habitantes de California a estirar sus presupuestos para alimentos con el fin de adquirir mejores productos, incluso antes de H.R.  1, los beneficios de CalFresh con frecuencia no les duraban todo el mes a las familias. El programa también ofrece a las personas participantes la oportunidad de priorizar mejor su salud al hacer sus compras de víveres e incorporar más frutas y verduras en su vida diaria. Como la demanda del programa superó el financiamiento disponible, se puso en pausa en junio de 2026.

Nourish California y Fullwell, que copatrocinaron la solicitud de presupuesto para reiniciar el programa, agradecen al gobernador Newsom, a nuestras y nuestros aliados legislativos, el asambleísta Alex Lee y el senador Scott Wiener, así como a nuestras y nuestros aliados legislativos adicionales: la senadora Laura Richardson, el asambleísta Corey Jackson, la senadora Caroline Menjivar y el senador John Laird, así como a la Legislatura en su conjunto por invertir en soluciones de política comprobadas que ayudan a la gente a obtener los alimentos que necesita y desea. La inversión de 20 millones de dólares en el presupuesto estatal es una victoria significativa, especialmente porque llega en un momento en que nuestros programas de red de seguridad se ven amenazados por los cambios en la política federal. Mientras el gobierno federal recorta beneficios, nuestro estado debe seguir invirtiendo proactivamente en programas como el CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT para permitir que las y los habitantes de California tengan acceso a  los alimentos que desean y necesitan.

El asambleísta Lee y el senador Wiener defendieron originalmente conjuntamente una petición de presupuesto de $100 millones, la cual habría permitido que el programa operara de manera ininterrumpida durante un año completo y se extendiera a regiones adicionales en todo el estado. Con base en las tendencias de participación en el programa, calculamos que los 20 millones respaldarán las operaciones del programa durante entre 3 y 4 meses. Aunque reconocemos que esta inversión es solo una fracción de lo que se necesita para mantener el programa activo durante todo el año, nos alegra poder seguir acercando frutas y verduras a cientos de miles de habitantes de California.

Mientras el programa se encuentra detenido en esos momentos, el Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California (CDSS) se coordinará con los aliados de implementación para identificar una fecha oficial de reinicio. ¡Pronto tendremos más novedades!

Lo que sigue

¡No ha terminado nuestra defensa! Aunque nos emociona ver que este programa se reiniciará, planeamos seguir defendiendo su financiamiento a largo plazo, de manera que pueda operar todo el año y llegar a familias de todo el estado. En California, donde cultivamos la mayoría de las frutas y verduras de la nación, nadie debería pasar hambre. ¡Sigan atentos para ver de qué otra forma pueden participar más!

Ways to Take Action

actualizado el 13 de julio de 2026

Únanse a nosotros para agradecer a nuestros líderes estatales por su compromiso con el programa. Su historia es increíblemente valiosa: ayuda a las y los legisladores a entender el impacto del programa y puede influir en futuras decisiones estatales de financiamiento.

Tome alguna (o todas) las siguientes medidas para compartir la importancia que el programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT tiene para usted.

1) Llamar a los líderes estatales

Llame a estas siete oficinas:

Ejemplo de guion para la llamada:

Hola, me llamo ________. Hablo para agradecer a [nombre del legislador] su apoyo para incluir 20 millones de dólares en el presupuesto del estado para el programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT. Este programa esencial reduce el hambre y mejora la salud al ayudar a las familias a llevar alimentos nutritivos a su mesa. [Una frase sobre las razones por las que este programa es importante para usted]. Solicito a [nombre del legislador] que dé prioridad al financiamiento del programa en los próximos años para que pueda seguir haciendo que las frutas y verduras frescas sean más asequibles. Gracias por transmitir mi comentario. 

2) Mande un correo electrónico

Use nuestro enlace de alerta de acción para enviarle un correo electrónico a su legislador y a los líderes clave del presupuesto sobre la importancia del programa.

3) Siga en contacto con nosotros

Regístrese para recibir novedades sobre cómo apoyar el programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT.

4) Encuesta – próximamente

Este verano enviaremos una encuesta para conocer mejor su experiencia en la defensa junto a nosotros y queremos escuchar otras formas en que le gustaría participar. ¡Pronto enviaremos más información!

Centro de acciones
Suscríbase para recibir actualizaciones

You Might Also Find This Interesting...

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Nourish California Response to the Governor’s May Revision

Posted on by Betzabel Estudillo

Nourish California Response to the Governor’s May Revision

Governor Newsom makes some critical investments in the food safety net, but more is needed to advance food justice in California

On May 14, 2026, the Governor released his May revision to the 2026-2027 State Budget, holding steady on investments made to our food safety net in past years while making some new critical investments. However, the May revision falls short of what is needed to fully mitigate the harm of HR 1 – federal legislation that makes significant cuts and eligibility changes to our safety net programs that millions of Californians depend on.  Nourish California urges the Governor and our legislative leaders to go further and ensure that every Californian has access to the food they need to thrive. 

The stakes could not be higher. This has been a challenging year for many communities. Californians grapple with rising food and gas prices, immigration kidnappings of our friends and family, undocumented and U.S. citizens alike, and a wave of harmful federal bills and actions. The May revision makes modest steps forward but they do not match the scale of the hardship so many are facing. We urge the Governor to be bold –  to leave a legacy that reflects California’s values of inclusion and care for all who call our state home. 

We are also reminded in times like these that community power drives change. That a few people can make a difference. At Nourish California, we stand with community members to fight cruel policies while protecting hard-won progress. We can’t do this alone. Join us by taking action to ensure that our state budget advances food justice. 

Together, we can build a more inclusive and equitable California.

Food4All Campaign: No Exceptions. No Exclusions. No Delays. 

The May revision maintained California’s commitment to the planned automation for the expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) food benefits to Californians ages 55 and older, which will begin in October 2027. However, the May revision fails to address a looming hunger crisis as tens of thousands of refugees, asylees, and other immigrants with humanitarian status are unjustly shut out of critical food assistance due to HR 1. In early 2026 it was estimated that the number of humanitarian immigrants who will lose CalFresh due to HR 1 eligibility changes would be 72,000. However, the May Revise lowered this to 34,000 based in large part to a sharp decline in enrollment between July 2025 and December 2025, due most likely to federal actions increasing the chilling effect. The message here is clear: the harm of HR 1 began well before the policy was implemented at the state level, and our leaders have yet to take mitigative action. It’s not too late for our leaders to invest in expanding Food4All so that immigration status is not a barrier to accessing critical food support.  

Summary: Continues with the expansion of CFAP for 55+ Californians regardless of immigration status. Makes no new investments to further expand CFAP through automation or allocating funding for benefits for humanitarian immigrants excluded from CalFresh due to HR 1. 

Ask: 1) Maintain the CFAP expansion timeline for older adults, regardless of immigration status; 2) fund the $1.8 million one-time automation to expand the CFAP to humanitarian immigrants and other Californians cut off of CalFresh due to HR 1 time limits; and 3) commit to funding food benefits for 55+ and humanitarian immigrants in 2027-2028.

Contact: Jackie Mendelson at jackie@nourishca.org 

Boosting Benefits: Fruit & Vegetable EBT Program Campaign 

The May revision did not include continued funding for the critical CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, which provides CalFresh families up to $60/month in additional benefits when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating retail stores. This program makes healthy food more affordable for low-income Californians, especially needed now as food costs continue to rise and resources to support low-income Californians shrink due to harms stemming from H.R. 1. The May revision also reappropriated up to $4.8 million of existing CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program funding from the Budget Act of 2025 to the FY 2026-2027 state budget to allow the funds to be used in the upcoming fiscal year. 

Without renewed funding, the program, which has served more than 325,000 Californians since its inception, will shut down at the end of June 2026. The program received $36 million in the 2025-26 state budget, which allowed it to relaunch in time for the holiday season this past November. In April 2026 alone, the program reached 92,000 households, providing nearly $4.85 million in fruit and vegetable supplemental benefits. The expected program shutdown will be especially harmful as cuts resulting from the federal passage of H.R. 1 are already weakening the national food safety net. 

Summary: No new funding to continue with the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program. There was some funding reappropriated for next year. We expect a program shutdown at the end of June 2026 without new funding. 

Ask: Include $100M in funding in the FY 2026-27 state budget to continue to operate this program uninterrupted for 12 more months and expand to reach many more Calfresh families in unserved regions in California. 

Contact: Michelle Lee at michelle@nourishca.org 

Every Kid, Every Day: Food to Grow, Learn, and Thrive

We are grateful that the Governor continues to prioritize and invest in our children by fully funding the California Universal School Meals program and maintaining support for SUN Bucks, which helps families buy food during the summer months when school is out.  The Governor included an additional $2.8 Million in the Prop 98 General Fund to fully fund the Universal School Meals Program in the 2026-27 school year. These programs are critical for children and families facing rising food costs and growing economic uncertainty due to the harmful effects of federal legislation. Together, Universal School Meals and SUN Bucks help ensure children have access to nutritious food year-round, reducing hunger and supporting their health, learning, and wellbeing.

Summary: May revision continues to prioritize school meals for school aged children by making critical investments in Universal School Meals and SUN Bucks programs. 

Ask: As California continues to invest in school meals, we must also ensure students have enough time to eat to fully benefit from these investments. Through our community conversations with students and parents across the state, families consistently shared concerns about long lunch lines, limited seated time, and students skipping meals because they do not have enough time to eat. We are grateful for this Administration’s continued commitment to school meals, and we urge state leaders to protect and strengthen these programs as families continue to face fear, hardship, and harmful federal actions that threaten food security in our communities.

Contact: Angeles Nelson at angeles@nourishca.org 

Thriving Transitions Campaign: Transitions Are Hard. Support Helps. 

The May revision acknowledges that HR 1 will create a significant new county workload tied to CalFresh Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents requirements, yet it stops short of addressing the deeper human and systemic consequences these changes will have on Californians returning home from incarceration.

As a state, we have spent years working to strengthen re-entry pathways through initiatives that recognize stability, dignity, and access to food as foundational to successful transitions home. Without meaningful action to address the accelerated timelines and barriers created by HR 1, these federal changes threaten to undermine hard-fought progress and place more Californians at risk of hunger, instability, and unnecessary system involvement.

Thriving Transitions believes that when systems fail to recognize the humanity and realities of the people they engage with, they weaken progress across every other investment the state has made in public safety, health, housing, and economic mobility. Policies that leave some communities more vulnerable ultimately reduce stability throughout the state.  

Note: We are working with re-entry partners to analyze May revision budget allocations related to re-entry investments and will update this section when more analysis becomes available. 

Contact: Kameron Mims-Jones at kameron@nourishca.org  

Other Key Budget Highlights

CalFood: The May revision includes one-time $30M in additional funding for the CalFood program, which provides food banks resources to serve a record 6 million Californians each month. This allocation supplements the existing $8M in ongoing funding for CalFood. While this augmentation is critical there is a growing need due to the compounding impacts of HR 1, rising food and gas prices, and attacks on immigrant communities. The California Association of Food Banks is advocating for a $60M ongoing and $50M one-time funding for CalFood for food banks to continue to serve Californians facing food insecurity. 

CalFresh County Administration: The May revision includes a one-time $30M funding for County administration to help CalFresh participants navigate the unnecessarily complex, and inequitable work time-limit requirements re-introduced by HR 1. The County Welfare Directors Association of California alongside statewide partners are requesting $73M in additional one-time funding and $58 million ongoing to support the hiring of eligibility workers and new screening requirements for exemptions. 

CalWORKs: The May revision maintains funding for the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program and includes a 1.8% increase to the CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) levels, which will go into effect on October 1, 2026. This MAP level increase is estimated to cost $59.5M in FY 2026-2027, funded through the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount of the Local Revenue Account. CalWORKs is a critical anti-poverty program that provides modest cash assistance and services to families facing poverty, particularly Black, Latino, and Immigrant families. 

Rainy Day Funds: California has a number of savings accounts to help weather economic downturns or “rainy days.” In November 2014, California voters approved Proposition 2, which revised the rules for the state’s Budget Stabilization Account (BSA), which is considered the main “rainy day” account. Prop 2 requires a set aside equal to 1.5 % of estimated General Fund (GF) revenues and an additional set aside required for capital gains revenue in a given year exceeding 8% of the GF tax revenue. From 2015-2016 to 2029-2030, half of these funds must be deposited into the rainy day fund, while the other half is used to reduce state liabilities, aka “budgetary debt.” 

The state also created the The Safety Net Reserve Fund, established in the 2018-19 Budget to protect CalWORKs and Medi-Cal benefits during economic downturns but this fund was fully depleted in response to recent budget deficits. The Governor’s May revision deposits a total of $29.9B in combined reserves in many of these rainy day funds at the end of 2026-2027. For more details about reserves allocation amounts, see the California Budget and Policy Center’s First Look at the Governor’s May revision.

What comes next?

The Senate and the Assembly are now holding hearings to discuss areas of misalignment between their budget proposals and the Governor’s May revision. The Legislature must pass a budget by June 15th, a state constitutional rule that Legislators forfeit their pay for every day they don’t pass a budget. 

Once the Legislature approves the budget, the Governor can sign the budget for immediate enactment or veto individual items.  By law, the final budget must be enacted by July 1. Now is the time to contact your legislators to urge them to prioritize our food safety-net. Subscribe to our action alerts to stay informed and take action. 

Join us on May 20 for a CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program Call-In Day!

Posted on by Michelle Lee

Join us on May 20 for a CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program Call-In Day!

Published on May 18, 2026 in CalFresh

**mensaje en Español abajo**
(haga clic aquí para ver)

On May 14, Governor Newsom released the May Revision of the 2026-27 state budget, which unfortunately did not include any new funding for the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. Without an additional investment from the state budget, the program will be forced to shut down at the end of June. 

We need our state leaders to take a stand in protecting this program, which helps families across the state purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. On May 20, 2026, Nourish California and Fullwell are hosting a second Call-In Day to re-flood our legislators' phone lines and email inboxes with messages of support for this program.

Take any (or all) of the steps below to help keep the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program active!

1. How to call (it only takes 10 minutes!)

Call these five offices:

Sample call script: 

Hi, my name is _____. I urge [Legislator's name] to support funding in the state budget to continue the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. Specifically, I want you to support Assemblymember Alex Lee and Senator Scott Wiener’s request for $100 million dollars so the program can help make healthy food more affordable for California families for at least 12 more months. If this program doesn’t get funding in this year’s state budget, it will once again be forced to pause in June. [A sentence about why the program is important to you] Thank you for passing along my comment.

While we are focusing the calls on May 20, feel free to call any day that works for you – or even more than once! The priority is to make sure that state leaders hear what is important to you.

2. Send an Email to Key Leaders (less than 5 minutes)

Use our Action Alert link to email key budget leaders about the importance of the program. 

While we are hoping to flood legislators’ inboxes on May 20, you can also send your emails on any day that works for you - or even more than once! The priority is to make sure that your legislators hear what is important to you.

3. BONUS: Post on social media to invite your friends and families to join us!

Go to @nourishcalifornia on Instagram or BlueSky or linkedin.com/company/fullwellpolicy on LinkedIn and reshare our social media graphic to tell others to join our call to action. 

You can also share a short link to this blog post at bit.ly/fv-call-in-5-20.

Why a Call-In Day?

The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT program allows CalFresh recipients to earn up to $60/month in additional CalFresh benefits when they use their EBT card to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. Program participants that use their EBT cards to purchase fresh produce at participating retailers receive dollar-for-dollar rebates, which are instantly added onto their EBT cards. It is a highly successful program in reducing hunger, improving health, and supporting California's agricultural economy.

Thanks to your phone calls and letters to state leaders, we were able to save the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Program last year. Earlier this year, we held a call-in day, and over a hundred community members & partners participated in telling our leaders how important the program is to Californians throughout the state.

We need to keep the momentum going, and this upcoming call-in day is an opportunity for that. Without additional funding, CalFresh participants are again at risk of losing these benefits at the end of June. This program is especially important as federal attacks to our safety nets worsen hunger and food insecurity throughout our state.

Call your legislators and urge them to support this critical program so it can continue and expand to help more communities throughout the state!

Questions? Contact: Michelle Lee at michelle@nourishca.org.

Participe con nosotros el 20 de mayo para un día de llamadas en favor del Programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT

El 14 de mayo, el gobernador Newsom comunicó su revisión de mayo del presupuesto estatal 2026-27, el cual desafortunadamente no incluyó un financiamiento continuo para el programa
CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT. Sin una inversión adicional del presupuesto estatal, el programa se verá forzado a cerrar a fines de junio.

Necesitamos que nuestros líderes estatales adopten una postura para proteger este programa, que ayuda a familias de todo el estado a adquirir frutas y verduras frescas. El 20 de mayo de 2026, Nourish California y Fullwell realizarán un segundo día de llamadas para volver a inundar las líneas telefónicas y las bandejas de entrada de correo electrónico de nuestros legisladores con mensajes de apoyo a este programa.

Tome alguna (o todas) las siguientes medidas para ayudar a mantener activo el programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT.

1. Cómo llamar (sólo le toma 10 minutos)

Llame a estas cinco oficinas:

Use este ejemplo de guion para la llamada:

Hola, me llamo ________. Conmino a [nombre del legislador] a que apoye el financiamiento en el presupuesto estatal para continuar con el programa Fruit and Vegetable EBT de CalFresh. De manera específica, deseo que apoye la solicitud del asambleísta Alex Lee y el senador Scott Wiener de $100 millones de dólares de manera que el programa pueda ayudar a que los alimentos saludables sean más asequibles para las familias de California durante un mínimo de 12 meses más. Sin el financiamiento del presupuesto anual de este año, de nuevo se verá obligado a cerrar en junio. Esto agravará aún más el hambre y la inseguridad alimentaria para los habitantes de California que ya tienen recursos muy limitados debido al aumento de los precios de los alimentos y los altos costos de vivienda. [Una frase sobre las razones por las cuales el programa es importante para usted] Gracias por transmitir mi comentario.

Aunque nos estamos enfocando en las llamadas del 20 de mayo, llame cualquier día que le funcione, ¡o incluso más de una vez! La prioridad es asegurarnos de que los líderes estatales escuche lo que es importante para usted.

2. Mande un correo electrónico a los líderes clave (le toma menos de 5 minutos)

Use nuestro enlace de Alerta de Acción para enviarle un correo electrónico a los líderes clave del presupuesto sobre la importancia del programa.

Aunque esperamos inundar las bandejas de entrada de los legisladores el 20 de mayo, también puede enviar sus correos electrónicos cualquier día que le funcione, ¡o incluso más de una vez! La prioridad es asegurarnos de que sus legisladores escuchen lo que es importante para usted.

3. BONIFICACIÓN: ¡Publique en redes sociales para inviar a sus amigos y familiares a participar con nosotros!

Vaya a @nourishcalifornia en Instagram o BlueSky o linkedin.com/company/fullwellpolicy en LinkedIn y reenvíe nuestro gráfico de redes sociales para comunicar a otros que se unan a nuestro llamado a la acción.

También puede compartir un enlace corto a esta publicación de blog en bit.ly/fv-call-in-5-20.

¿Por qué un día de llamadas?

El programa CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT le permite a los titulares de CalFresh obtener hasta $60 mensuales en beneficios adicionales de CalFresh cuando usan su tarjeta EBT para comprar frutas y verduras frescas. Los participantes del programa que utilizan sus tarjetas EBT para adquirir productos frescos en las tiendas participantes reciben reembolsos dólar por dólar, los cuales se agregan de manera instantánea a sus tarjetas EBT. Este es un programa de gran éxito en reducir el hambre, mejorar la salud y respaldar la economía agrícola de California.

El año pasado pudimos salvar el programa de Frutas y Verduras de CalFresh gracias a sus llamadas telefónicas y cartas a nuestros líderes estatales A principios de este año realizamos un día de llamadas y más de cien miembros y aliados de la comunidad participaron para comunicar a nuestros líderes la importancia que tiene el programa en todo el estado de California.

Necesitamos mantener la inercia y este próximo día de llamadas es una oportunidad para hacerlo. Sin financiamiento adicional, los participantes de CalFresh están de nuevo en riesgo de perder estos beneficios al finalizar junio. Este programa es especialmente importante a medida que los ataques federales a nuestras redes de seguridad empeoran el hambre y la inseguridad alimentaria en todo nuestro estado.

Llame a sus legisladores y exhórtelos a apoyar este programa de manera que pueda continuar y ampliarse para ayudar a más personas en todo el estado.

¿Preguntas? Comunicarse con: Michelle Lee al michelle@nourishca.org.

You Might Also Find This Interesting...

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Press Release: Governor Newsom Leaves CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program Unfunded In State Budget

Posted on by Courtney Shojinaga
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2026

Contact:

Courtney Shojinaga, courtney@nourishca.org, 213.204.3614
Lena Brook, lbrook@fullwell.us, 415.644.8019

Governor Newsom Leaves CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program Unfunded In State Budget

Advocates Urge State Leaders to Prioritize Food Access

Sacramento, CA – On May 14, Governor Gavin Newsom released his May Revision of the 2026-27 State Budget, which fails to continue funding for the critical CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. This program makes healthy food more affordable for low-income Californians, especially needed now as food costs continue to rise and resources to support low-income Californians shrink due to harms stemming from H.R. 1. 

With this lack of investment from the Governor, anti-hunger advocates urge the Legislature to include $100M in funding for this popular, efficient and effective program when the FY 2026-27 budget is decided in June. The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is a documented success in alleviating hunger, supporting health, and boosting California’s agricultural sector. Without renewed funding, the program, which has served more than 325,000 Californians since its inception, will once again pause at the end of June 2026 and cause CalFresh families to lose up to $60/month in additional benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables. Ultimately, pausing the program will make it even harder for individuals and families to buy the food they need at a time of historically high food prices and tight budgets.

The program received $36 million in the 2025-26 state budget, which allowed it to relaunch in time for the holiday season this past November. In April 2026 alone, the program reached 92,000 households, providing nearly $4.85 million in fruit and vegetable supplemental benefits. The expected pause to the program will be especially harmful as cuts resulting from the federal passage of H.R. 1 are already weakening the national food safety net. California must stand strong against harsh federal policies that limit families’ abilities to afford and access food.

After successfully leading the charge to secure funding for the CalFresh and Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program last year, Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Alex Lee are championing a FY 2026-2027 budget request for $100 million. The funds will allow this vital program to continue operating uninterrupted and expand to reach additional CalFresh families in currently unserved parts of our state.

Nourish California and Fullwell, co-sponsors of the budget request to continue this program, urge Governor Newsom to work with the Legislature to commit to reduce hunger and improve health in California.

Senator Scott Wiener:

“At a time when the Trump Administration is putting food benefits in the crosshairs, California needs to stand up for successful nutrition assistance programs like the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetables EBT Program. This program is proven to put nutritious food in the mouths of our most vulnerable. I urge the Legislature to restore this critical funding so California can continue to lead the fight against hunger.”

Assemblymember Alex Lee, Chair of the Human Services Committee:

“The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families who live paycheck to paycheck. It is highly effective and efficient in expanding access to nutritious food. Investing in this successful program is critical amid catastrophic Republican cuts to our social safety nets. I will keep fighting tirelessly for investments in anti-hunger initiatives like the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program to support our working families.”

Michelle Lee, Policy Advocate at Nourish California:

“Facing attacks by the federal government, state leaders have an opportunity to take a stand and protect the health and well-being of Californians. In his final year as Governor of California, we urge Governor Newsom to set a lasting legacy and protect future Californians from federal threats by investing in successful initiatives like the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Program. We cannot lose ground in the fight against hunger and fail to provide for the needs of Californians to make up for the funding that the Trump administration has taken away from people across our state. At a time when the federal government wields hunger as a weapon, our Governor and state leaders can build a budget that reflects the investment in the well-being of all Californians.”

Lena Brook, Deputy Director at Fullwell:

“Low-income Californians are facing unprecedented economic challenges, with food and gas prices rising and the federal safety net more constrained than ever. The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is making a concrete difference in people’s lives by bringing healthy produce within reach for working families. Since this program resumed in November 2025, we’ve seen demand increase every single month. It has proven to be an effective way to fight hunger while also providing economic benefits to the grocery and farming sectors. Come June, we hope that Governor Newsom and our legislative leaders agree it is a wise and worthwhile investment for California.”  

###

Founded in 1992 and operating for over a quarter century as California Food Policy Advocates, Nourish California is a nonpartisan, statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We engage in policy advocacy and research at the local, regional, and state levels in California and at the federal level. When our small team isn’t out meeting with communities, partners, and policymakers, we can be found in our offices in Oakland, Los Angeles (virtual), and San Diego (virtual).

Fullwell is a San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit organization that advocates for local, state, and federal food policy that promotes health, justice, and sustainability. We develop policies and programs in California related to the food safety net and public food procurement that have the potential to be replicated across the country.

Food4All Coalition Responds to Gov’s May Revise of the 2026-2027 State Budget

Posted on by Jackie Mendelson

Governor Newsom Honors Promise to Expand Critical State Anti-Hunger Programs for Some Californians, But Abandons Humanitarian Immigrants

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2026
CONTACT
Edward Sifuentes, esifuentes@caimmigrant.org, (760) 936-2632
Hayley Burgess, hayley@wavelengthcommunications.com, (213) 523-0708

 

SACRAMENTO, CA –  Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May Revision of the proposed 2026-27 State Budget released yesterday maintained California's commitment to the planned automation for the expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide food assistance beginning October 2027 to Californians ages 55 and older, regardless of immigration status. However, the governor's proposal fails to address a looming hunger crisis that would leave tens of thousands of immigrants out of critical food assistance.

On April 1, a federal bill, H.R. 1, began stripping food benefits from refugees, asylees, and other immigrants with humanitarian status — solely due to their immigration status. An estimated 6,000 Californians have already lost their CalFresh benefits as a result. Without state action, 72,000 humanitarian immigrants will have lost food assistance by early 2027. 

In response to the May Revision, members of the Food4All coalition issued the following statements:

Jackie Mendelson, Policy Advocate at Nourish California:

“We applaud Newsom for continuing the planned expansion of CFAP, but ultimately the budget’s failure to include humanitarian immigrants who are newly excluded from CalFresh puts tens of thousands of Californians, and their families, at risk of going hungry. California’s leaders cannot follow Trump’s lead and neglect our immigrant neighbors. If we want our state to thrive, they must put action behind their words and invest in the wellbeing of all Californians, regardless of age or immigration status. Every single person who calls our state home deserves to feed themselves with dignity, no matter where they were born.”

Benyamin Chao, Supervising Health & Public Benefits Policy Manager at the California Immigrant Policy Center:

“The continued commitment to the CFAP expansion for Californians age 55 and older remains an important step towards the safety and security of all Californians, but falls short of addressing the full scale of hunger in our state. With thousands of refugees and humanitarian immigrants losing food assistance every month because of new federal restrictions, California must not mirror the federal government’s exclusionary approach by leaving vulnerable families without a safety net when they face hunger."

Assemblywoman Celeste Rodriguez (D-43):

“We appreciate that the Governor maintained the planned CFAP expansion for immigrant Californians age 55 and older, because no senior should be forced to choose between food, medicine, or other basic necessities. But hundreds of thousands of Californians, including those under 55 and humanitarian immigrants, are still being left behind at a moment when federal actions are already stripping food assistance away from vulnerable families. California has long led with the understanding that access to food is a basic human need, and we must continue working toward a system where no one goes hungry because of their immigration status or age.” 

Ana-Alicia Carr, Director of Policy and Coalitions at the Los Angeles Food Policy Council:

“The Los Angeles Food Policy Council stands firm in its dedication to ensuring everyone has healthy, affordable, accessible, sustainable and fair food. While we are encouraged that the Governor maintained his commitment to the CFAP expansion for adults 55 and older, ongoing and emerging challenges threaten food security for many others. Younger immigrant adults still lack a planned pathway to access our most effective anti-hunger program. Additionally,  nearly 11,000 newly excluded humanitarian immigrants in Los Angeles County alone are losing access to Calfresh benefits due to federal changes. Diminished spending power is a detriment to families, retailers, food producers and local economies - California must do more to ensure a strong safety net for all.”

Monica Saucedo, senior policy fellow at the California Budget & Policy Center:

”Governor Newsom’s May Revision fails Californians with low incomes who are on the brink of a hunger crisis. Without bold state action, thousands of Californians, including humanitarian immigrants who are children, people with disabilities, and parents to US citizens, will be stripped of their CalFresh eligibility over the coming months. While the planned CFAP expansion to older adults is an important step, 72,000 humanitarian immigrants and 40,000 US citizen and legal permanent resident family members will still lose assistance without additional investments as inflation and food costs continue to rise at the fastest level in years.”

 

###

The Food4All coalition is a diverse, robust coalition of more than 100 anti-hunger, anti-poverty, immigrant rights, and grassroots organizations that are working together to bring an equitable food safety net that does not discriminate based on immigration status.

Founded in 1992 and operating for over a quarter century as California Food Policy Advocates, Nourish California is a nonpartisan, statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We engage in policy advocacy and research at the local, regional, and state levels in California and at the federal level. When our small team isn’t out meeting with communities, partners, and policymakers, we can be found in our offices in Oakland, Los Angeles (virtual), and San Diego (virtual).

The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is a statewide immigrant rights organization that advocates for policies that protect and advance the rights of immigrants and their families throughout California. CIPC combines legislative and policy advocacy, strategic communications, statewide organizing, and regional coalition capacity building to pursue its mission of advocating for policies that uphold the humanity of immigrants and refugees while advancing racial, social, and economic justice.

TAKE ACTION: Don’t let CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Benefits run out!

Posted on by Michelle Lee

TAKE ACTION: Don’t let CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Benefits run out!

Published on Apr 27, 2026 in CalFresh, State Legislation

**mensaje en Español abajo**
(haga clic aquí para ver)

Thanks to your phone calls and letters to our state leaders, we were able to save the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable Program last year. 

We need to keep the momentum going – without additional funding, CalFresh participants are again at risk of losing benefits that help make food more affordable and accessible. This critical program, which provides $60 in benefits directly back to participants, is especially important during times when federal attacks to our safety nets worsen hunger and food insecurity throughout our state.

The legislature and governor need to put at least $100 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

updated June 18, 2026

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) Call State Leaders

On April 29 and May 20, Nourish California and Fullwell hosted a Call-In Day. Help us continue to flood phone lines with calls to support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT program before the final budget is released at the end of June!

Call these three offices (priority = governor):

Use this sample call script: 

Hi, my name is _____. I urge you to support funding in the state budget to continue the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program. Specifically, I want you to support Assemblymember Alex Lee and Senator Scott Wiener’s request for $100 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. If this program doesn’t get funding in this year’s state budget, it will be forced to pause indefinitely at the end of this month. [A sentence about why the program is important to you] Thank you for passing along my comment.

2) Send an Email to Key Leaders

Use our Action Alert link to email key budget leaders about the importance of the program. 

While we held days of action on April 29 and May 20, we encourage you to continue sending in letters until the final budget is released at the end of June - or participate even more than once! The priority is to make sure that your legislators hear what is important to you.

3) Sign our Petition to State Budget Leaders

Use our Action Alert link to add your name to the petition.

ACTION CENTER
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES

4) Repost on Instagram and Bluesky

Spread the word by reposting or sharing our posts on your story!

Instagram
bluesky

Background

CalFresh is an important program that helps more than five million people put food on the table. However, our current food safety net programs are not enough to adequately meet the needs of Californians throughout the state. With threats to our safety net programs due to H.R. 1 and other recent federal actions, communities across California will experience a loss or reduction in their CalFresh benefits. Additionally, federal benefit levels limit purchasing power, especially in California where the high cost of living limits the budgets of many families. For the majority of CalFresh participants, benefits do not last through the whole month.

In 2018, the state first started the Fruit and Vegetable EBT program to test how pilot supplemental benefit programs could fight hunger and support California's economy. Since its creation, this highly popular program continues to provide 75,000 CalFresh participants with up to $60 a month in rebates when they buy fresh fruits and vegetables with their CalFresh benefits. 

We need the Legislature and Governor to include $100 million in the state budget to keep the program going for 12 months and to help more California families. That's only 0.035% 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. We no longer need to test this program’s effectiveness – it works, and we need to tell our state leaders to move the program towards permanence.

You can support the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable Program by joining our campaign and taking one or more of the actions above today!

Questions? Contact: Michelle Lee at michelle@nourishca.org.

TOME ACCIÓN: ¡No permita que se terminen los beneficios para frutas y verduras de CalFresh!

El año pasado pudimos proteger el programa de Frutas y Verduras de CalFresh gracias a sus llamadas telefónicas y cartas a nuestros líderes estatales.  

Necesitamos mantener la inercia. Sin financiamiento adicional, los participantes en CalFresh de nuevo se ven en riesgo de perder los beneficios que ayudan a que los alimentos sean más asequibles y accesibles. Este programa crucial, que ofrece $60 en beneficios de devolución directa a los participantes, se ha vuelto especialmente importante a medida que los ataques federales a nuestras redes de seguridad empeoran el hambre y la inseguridad alimentaria en todo nuestro estado. 

La legislatura y el gobernador deben asignar un mínimo de $100 millones al presupuesto estatal de este año con el fin de prestar un mejor servicio a la gente y ayudar a que puedan adquirir más alimentos saludables durante 12 meses más, por lo menos. 

Puntos de acción

Actualizado el 18 de junio

Necesitamos su ayuda para garantizar que los beneficios de Frutas y Verduras de CalFresh sigan vigentes para las decenas de miles de familias que dependen del programa. ¡Nuestros líderes estatales necesitan escucharle! 

Entre este momento y fines de junio se tomarán decisiones al tenor de su el programa recibirá el financiamiento completo que necesita para continuar. No espere: haga que se escuche su voz y respalde hoy el aumento de los beneficios de CalFresh.

1) Llamar a los líderes estatales

Los días 29 de abril y 20 de mayo, Nourish California y Fullwell organizaron dos Días de Acciónes. ¡Ayúdenos a saturar las líneas telefónicas con llamadas para apoyar el programa Fruit and Vegetable EBT de CalFresh antes de que se publique el presupuesto final a los finales de junio!

Llama a estas tres oficinas:

Ejemplo de guión para la llamada: 

Hola, me llamo ________. Deseo conminar a usted a que apoya el financiamiento en el presupuesto estatal para continuar con el programa Fruit and Vegetable EBT de CalFresh. De manera específica, deseo que apoye la solicitud del asambleísta Alex Lee y el senador Scott Wiener de $100 millones de dólares de manera que el programa pueda ayudar a que los alimentos saludables sean más asequibles para las familias de California durante un mínimo de 12 meses más y ayudar a más personas. Sin el financiamiento del presupuesto anual de este año, de nuevo se verá obligado a cerrar en junio. Esto agravará aún más el hambre y la inseguridad alimentaria para los habitantes de California que ya tienen recursos muy limitados debido al aumento de los precios de los alimentos y los altos costos de vivienda. [Una frase sobre las razones por las cuales el programa es importante para usted] Gracias por transmitir mi comentario.

2) Envía un correo electrónico a los líderes estatales clave

Use nuestro enlace de Action Alert para enviarle un correo electrónico a líderes clave sobre la importancia de este programa.

Aunque llevamos a cabo los días de acciónes en los días 29 de abril y 20 de mayo, le animamos a seguir enviando cartas hasta que se publique el presupuesto final (o incluso a participar más de una vez). La prioridad es asegurarse de que sus legisladores escuchen lo que es importante para usted.

3. Firme nuestra petición a los líderes estatales a cargo del presupuesto

Use nuestro enlace de Action Alert para agregar su nombre a la petición.

ACTION CENTER
Suscríbase para recibir actualizaciones

Antecedentes

CalFresh es un programa importante que ayuda a más de cinco millones de personas a llevar alimentos a su mesa. Sin embargo, nuestros programas de red de seguridad alimentaria actuales no son suficientes para satisfacer adecuadamente las necesidades de los habitantes de California en todo el estado. A causa de las amenazas a nuestros programas de red de seguridad debido a H.R. 1 y otras acciones federales, las comunidades en todo California sufrirán una pérdida o reducción de sus beneficios de CalFresh. Además, los niveles de beneficios federales limitan el poder adquisitivo, especialmente en California, donde el alto costo de vida limita los presupuestos de muchas familias. Para la mayoría de los participantes en CalFresh, los beneficios no duran todo el mes.

En 2018, el estado comenzó por vez primera el programa Fruit and Vegetable EBT para probar la forma en que los programas de beneficios complementarios podrían combatir el hambre y apoyar la economía de California. Desde su creación, este programa tan popular les sigue brindando a unos 76,000 participantes de CalFresh hasta $60 mensuales en bonificaciones cuando compran frutas y verduras frescos con sus beneficios de CalFresh.

Necesitamos que la legislatura y el gobernador incluyan $100 millones en el presupuesto del estado para mantener el programa funcionando durante 12 meses y ayudar a más familias en California. Esa cantidad representa únicamente el 0.035% del presupuesto estatal en general. Este programa es costeable, eficiente y crucial. En un momento con presupuestos ajustados, para el estado y para millones de habitantes de california es una inversión que definitivamente vale la pena continuar. Ya no necesitamos hacer pruebas de la eficiencia de este programa: funciona y necesitamos decirle a nuestros líderes estatales que conviertan el programa en algo permanente.

Usted puede apoyar el programa de frutas y verduras de CalFresh uniéndose hoy a nuestras campaña y tomando una o más de las acciones ya mencionadas.

¿Preguntas? Comunicarse con: Michelle Lee al michelle@nourishca.org.

You Might Also Find This Interesting...

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Anti-Hunger Advocates Urge Governor Newsom to Remain Proactive In the Fight Against Hunger

Posted on by Courtney Shojinaga

On Friday, January 9, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom released his January proposal for the 2026-27 state budget. Unfortunately, the proposed budget does not include continued funding for the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, which makes food more affordable for low-income Californians.

Though there were no major cuts to CalFresh, the proposed budget does not sufficiently mitigate the harm to communities that will face reduced or lost CalFresh benefits resulting from the passage of H.R. 1. Anti-hunger advocates urge the Governor to make proactive investments that ensure people have adequate access to food. The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is a documented success in alleviating hunger, supporting health, and boosting California’s agricultural sector.

The program received $36 million in the 2025-26 state budget, which allowed it to relaunch in time for the holiday season this past November, after pausing in January 2025 when funds were depleted. Without additional funding, the program will once again be forced to pause and families across the state will lose critical food benefits. This is especially harmful as cuts resulting from the federal passage of H.R. 1 are already weakening the national food safety net. Governor Newsom has an opportunity to carve a different path forward by investing in a program that puts additional food benefits directly in the hands of those who need it.

wordpress featured images (1)

After successfully leading the charge to secure funding to restart the CalFresh and Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program last year, Assemblymember Alex Lee and Senator Laura Richardson are once again championing a budget request for $100 million. The funds will allow this vital program to continue operating uninterrupted and expand to reach additional CalFresh families. It not only helps tens of thousands of low-income Californians afford food, but also provides an economic boost to farmers and independent grocers.

Nourish California and Fullwell, co-sponsors of the budget request to continue this program, encourage Governor Newsom to work with the Legislature to create a lasting legacy of reducing hunger and improving health in California.

Assemblymember Alex Lee:

“As families brace for devastating federal cuts, we must ensure low-income Californians have access to affordable and nutritious food. By investing $100 million in the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program, we have the opportunity to more than double the number of families served and support even more local businesses. The program is a proven solution in reducing hunger and stimulating the agricultural economy. Now is the time to step up our commitment to ensure no Californian goes hungry.”

Michelle Lee, Policy Advocate at Nourish California:

“With rising costs of living and federal cuts to critical programs like CalFresh, Governor Newsom must proactively mitigate harm by providing additional food benefits for Californians across our state. We urge Governor Newsom and the Legislature to not follow the lead of the Trump Administration, but instead stand strong and prioritize the well-being of California families. A continued investment into the state budget would ensure that families can participate in the CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Program year-round, while also allowing more families to access this program.” 

Lena Brook, Deputy Director at Fullwell:

“Governor Newsom’s January budget proposal rightfully includes resources to mitigate the CalFresh-related fallout from policy changes passed in H.R. 1 last summer. Those investments will keep the proverbial lights on. Yet in the long run, we know that this is not enough. Even prior to H.R. 1, CalFresh benefits were insufficient to meet the nutritional needs of too many Californians. Investing in the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program is an opportunity to turn the lights up by building a more robust nutrition safety net that makes healthy, nourishing food more affordable for Californians.”

Listening into Action: Virtual Community Convening / Escuchar para Actuar: Conversacion Comunitaria Virtual en California

Posted on by Betzabel Estudillo

Escuchar para Actuar: Conversaciones Comunitarias en California

Como parte de la serie “Escuchar para Actuar: Conversaciones Comunitarias en California” de Nourish California, se llevará a cabo una reunión virtual a nivel estatal el 21 de enero de 2026, de 2:30 a 4:00 p. m.

Invitamos a miembros de la comunidad, defensores, y colaboradores de todo California a conversar sobre cómo las acciones federales, como la Ley HR 1 y otras barreras, están afectando el acceso a los alimentos. La reunión será bilingüe (inglés y español) con interpretación simultánea. Un número limitado de estipendios seran disponibles para miembros de la comunidad, ¡así que inscríbase!

¿Le interesa asistir a esta reunión y obtener más información?

Complete este formulario de interés

Para obtener más información, contacte a Betzabel a betzabel@nourishca.org.

Listening into Action: Community Conversations Across California 

As a part of Nourish California’s Listening into Action: Community Conversations Across series, a statewide virtual convening will take place on January 21, 2026 from 2:30 – 4:00 PM.

We invite community members, advocates, and partners from across California to discuss how federal actions like HR 1 and other barriers are affecting families’ access to food. The convening will be bilingual (English and Spanish) with live interpretation. A limited number of stipends will be available for community members with lived experience, so please sign up!

Interested in attending this convening and learning more? 

Fill out this interest form

For more information, please email Betzabel at betzabel@nourishca.org

Language Access: A Note from the CalFresh Forum Planning Team

Posted on by Kameron Mims-Jones

We want to be honest: this year, our outreach materials have only been made available in English and Spanish. Last year, we were able to offer more languages—and we know that language access matters.

Language access can open doors—or unintentionally close them.
 We’re carrying that awareness with us as we plan the 2025 CalFresh Forum, and we’re committed to keeping this space as inclusive and welcoming as possible.

2025 CalFresh Forum - Google form banners (3)

This year’s Forum will bring together people from across California to Compton College—community members, organizers, advocates, outreach providers, and policy leaders—who are working to remove barriers to food access and strengthen the safety net. We believe the most powerful change occurs when we create space for diverse voices, lived experiences, and ways of knowing.

We’ll be opening registration soon and can’t wait to share what’s new this year—including several days of events, community-centered conversations, and fresh ways to connect. Whether you’ve attended the Forum before or are thinking about joining us for the first time, we hope you’ll see yourself in this space.

Stay tuned for more updates—we can’t wait to welcome you.

- The CalFresh Forum Planning Team

Governor’s Final State Budget Invests in Food Safety Net, Falls Short On Immigrant Health

Posted on by Betzabel Estudillo

On June 30, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom and the state Legislature finalized the state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. While the state budget provides funding and support for several food and nutrition programs, it makes cuts to other critical safety net programs. Nourish California is grateful for the investments made to improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for CalFresh participants, maintaining a commitment to feeding students during the school year and in the summer break, and uphold support for providing food assistance to Californians ages 55 and older, regardless of immigration status.

However, the final state budget freezes new enrollments in Medi-Cal only for  undocumented immigrants and instates a new monthly premium that is cost-prohibitive for low-income immigrant families, including many who are lawfully present. Nourish California strongly believes that all Californians deserve healthy and dignified lives, and this relies on access to food and healthcare.

Shortly after the final state budget was signed, Congress passed a federal reconciliation budget (HR 1) which includes devastating and unprecedented cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other vital safety net programs. Nourish California is deeply concerned about the passage of HR 1 and the harm it will cause to families already struggling to put food on the table. This bill will roll back hard-fought wins, undermine years of advocacy, and will increase food insecurity and hardship across our state. 

We urge our state leaders to stay focused on bold, community-driven solutions that ensure an equitable food safety net and reconsider cuts to healthcare for immigrants. We remain committed to working with the Legislature and the Newsom administration to advance policy solutions that help families, older adults, people with disabilities, justice-impacted individuals, immigrants, and all Californians access the food they need to thrive.

Below is an overview of key elements in the 2025–2026 final state budget that impact our community-centered policy priorities. 

Food4All/CFAP Expansion

In the May Revision, a “trigger-on” was proposed for the Food4All expansion of the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to Californians ages 55 and older, regardless of immigration status. Under this proposal, planning and implementation preparation would move forward, but the final decision to start the expansion would depend on a funding review by the Department of Finance (DoF) in spring 2027. If the DoF determined there were enough funds for the expansion to begin, then the program would be “triggered on” and continue as planned for implementation in October 2027. This conditional approach raised concerns as it weakened the state’s commitment to ensuring food assistance for older immigrants. 

We are pleased to share that the final state budget reflects the power of our coalition’s advocacy: the harmful trigger included in the May Revision was removed, and the state reaffirmed its commitment to expand CFAP to include older adults, regardless of immigration status, starting in October 2027. 

As we move forward with our Food4All advocacy, Nourish California, the California Immigrant Policy Center, and the Food4All coalition will continue to urge state leaders to protect this expansion and make additional progress towards our long-term vision of food access for all experiencing need, regardless of age or immigration status. 

Every Kid, Every Day

The final state budget maintains key investments in Universal School meals and SUN Bucks. The Governor continues with his commitment to ensuring California children have access to the food they need to grow, learn, and thrive both during the school year and over the summer.

  • Universal School Meals: $90.7 million to fully fund free breakfast and lunch for over 5.8 million TK-12 students in California schools; plus $160 million is specifically allocated for the Universal School Meals Support Grant, which will support kitchen infrastructure upgrades and staffing. These investments are crucial to ensure that all children, regardless of their income or immigration status, can access the food they need to thrive.
  • SUN Bucks: $43.8 million for implementation and outreach. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are now required to determine children’s eligibility for SUN Bucks if they attend a school participating in the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program. This investment will help deliver food benefits to over 5 million children, a powerful step toward reducing hunger when school is out. 

Fruit and Vegetable EBT Program

We are excited to share that the Governor and the Legislature included $36 million in the state budget to bring back the CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Program. This program allows families participating in CalFresh (formerly known as food stamps) to earn up to $60 per month in additional food benefits when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with their CalFresh EBT benefits card at participating retailers. Because the program was so successful, it ran out of funding—most recently in January 2025.

Nourish California and Fullwell, who co-sponsored the budget request to restart the program, thank Governor Newsom and the Legislature for investing in proven policy solutions that help people get the food they need and want. We look forward to working with community and community partners, coalition members, and the Department of Social Services (CDSS) to relaunch this program as soon as possible. 

What Comes Next?

The federal budget reconciliation bill will have both immediate and long-term impacts. The federal government has retreated from its commitment to ensure a well-nourished, healthy America. We will work to demand that our federal leaders reverse these harmful actions and set the nation on a new path toward food justice and health equity.

As the impacts of HR 1 become clearer, the state may revisit its budget decisions to address cuts. Nourish California will continue working alongside communities, partners, the Legislature, and the Governor to ensure that every Californian has access to the food they need.

How Can I Take Action?

The state budget reflects our collective values and priorities. Your advocacy can shape the state budget.

✅ Join our community-centered policy campaigns at: act.nourishca.org

📱 Stay connected and help spread the word by following us on social media:

For more information, contact Betzabel Estudillo at betzabel@nourishca.org 

Older Posts »»