FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 12, 2021
 

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s Women, Infant and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) is making it easier for program participants to purchase more healthy produce by temporarily increasing the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fruit and vegetable purchases beginning June 1, 2021.

All CVBs for eligible women and children will increase from $9-11 per month to $35 per month through September 30, 2021. This increase comes after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 into law on March 11, 2021. The law allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily raise the amount of CVBs available for purchasing fruits and vegetables.

South Carolina’s WIC program is managed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

This increase allows some families to purchase nearly three times the fruits and vegetables for three consecutive months,” said Berry Kelly, State WIC director. “We are excited to provide the opportunity for our WIC families to fill up on extra fruits and vegetables.”

In South Carolina, WIC families can shop for nutritious foods at more than 600 authorized WIC retailers statewide. SC WIC serves eligible women, infants, and children up to age 5, and the program provides quality nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, nutritious foods, and referrals to health services.

Learn more at https://scdhec.gov/wic.