California is putting $23 million on the table to help low-income residents stretch their benefits at farmers markets, mobile markets, CSAs, and small retailers. State officials say about $21.5 million will go toward projects that boost CalFresh nutrition incentives, with roughly $1.7 million earmarked for WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program efforts. The awards are expected to keep incentive programs running at roughly 303 locations through spring 2027.
In a March 12 press release, the governor’s office cast the investment as both a hunger-fighting tool and a way to keep food dollars circulating close to home, saying it will “connect locally grown food to eligible Californians” while supporting California farms, according to the Governor of California. The release links these new grants to other statewide nutrition efforts, including universal school meals and expanded summer food benefits for children.
How the grants will work
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Farm to Fork is in charge of rolling out the funding. The office is distributing roughly $21.5 million across 12 CalFresh-focused projects that are designed to keep nutrition incentives flowing at farmers' markets and other vendors, the department explains on its CNIP page. Current incentives are active at more than 280 locations statewide, and the new awards are expected to sustain operations at 303 participating sites through spring 2027, according to CDFA. Another $1.7 million will support 11 projects connected to the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
Money for markets and local farms
A 2021 analysis backed by SPUR estimated that every dollar invested in healthy food incentives can generate up to three dollars in local economic activity, especially when those incentives are spent directly with farm vendors, SPUR found. State officials and program administrators point to that kind of multiplier as one reason the grants emphasize market operations and technical assistance for small vendors.
Where you'll see the benefits
The money will be at work across 19 counties, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Alameda, and San Francisco, with 10 grantees set to distribute incentives at 121 certified farmers' markets in that group of counties, as reported by the Santa Monica Mirror. Officials say rural Northern California markets and mobile distributions are also part of the mix, which is intended to help communities that lack year-round store access to fresh produce.
How shoppers use the dollars
At participating markets and retailers, CalFresh shoppers generally get a dollar-for-dollar match on produce purchases, so a $10 CalFresh swipe can turn into $20 to spend on fruits and vegetables in many locations, according to the Governor of California. Depending on the setup, matches are handed out through market tokens, EBT-linked kiosks, or vendor tablets.
Where to find more information
Market managers, community organizations, and potential grantees can find the full list of awardees, project summaries, and vendor guidance on CDFA’s CNIP webpage, available through CDFA, which hosts application materials and grantee contacts for the 2026 awards. The department says the grants are meant to keep incentive distributions going and build vendor capacity through spring 2027, including support to help smaller markets adopt electronic payment systems.
Advocates say the funding is a welcome boost, although success will hinge on outreach, vendor capacity, and whether markets can consistently accept benefits year-round. For shoppers and small farmers alike, officials describe the program as a wager that easier access to fresh food will translate into healthier plates and more stable local sales.
