CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable EBT Pilot Project
AB 1811, Chapter 35, (2018), added Welfare and Institutions Code 10072.3 and created the California Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project. The goal of the pilot project was to develop and refine a scalable model for increasing the purchase and consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables by delivering supplemental benefits to CalFresh recipients in a way that could be easily adopted by USDA FNS (Food and Nutrition Service) authorized retailers of various types, sizes, and locations in the future. The California Department of Social Services EBT, in partnership with CalFresh, the Office of Technology and Solutions Integration (OTSI), and the California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) awarded three grants to non-profit organizations to meet this goal.
CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project (CF&V) Update
The CF&V Pilot Project is temporarily paused. $20 million in additional funding was recently approved as part of the Budget Act of 2026, and the pilot will resume later this year, additional updates, including the next start date of the pilot, will be posted as they become available.
Participating Retailers and Farmers Markets:
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Pilot Grantee
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Grocery Partner or Farmers’ Market
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Impacted County
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Fullwell
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Arteaga’s Food Center
- 204 Willow St, San Jose, CA 95110
- 6906 Automall Pkwy, Gilroy, CA 95020
- 1003 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA 95125
- 2620 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose, CA 95116
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Santa Clara
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Fullwell
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Santa Fe Foods
- 860 White Rd, San Jose, CA 95127
- 7356 Thornton Ave, Newark, CA 94560
- 1017 N Main St, Salinas, CA 93906
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Santa Clara
Alameda
Monterey
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Fullwell
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Harvest Market
- 171 Boatyard Dr, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
- 10501 Lansing St, Mendocino, CA 95460
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Mendocino
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Ecology Center
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LA River Farmers’ Market (Food Access Los Angeles)
- 1245 N Spring St., Los Angeles CA 90012
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Los Angeles
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UC San Diego Center for Community Health at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at the UCSD
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Mothers Nutritional Center
All 82 locations
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Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
San Bernardino
San Diego
Imperial
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Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is happening?
- The CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable (CF&V) EBT Pilot Project is currently paused. During the pause, participants will no longer earn new CF&V incentive dollars when purchasing eligible fruits and vegetables at participating locations. $20 million in additional funding for operation of the CF&V Pilot was included in the California Budget Act of 2026.The CF&V EBT pilot will restart later this year.
- What is changing?
- Eligible participants are not receiving new CF&V incentive dollars at participating retailers and farmers’ markets while the project is paused. Previously earned incentive benefits remaining on EBT cards may still be used until they expire. Once the program restarts, eligible participants will again be able to earn CF&V incentives at participating locations.
- Why did the pilot pause?
- The pilot was paused to ensure that the CF&V incentives did not abruptly end due to lack of funding. With additional funding provided through the California Budget Act of 2026, CDSS, the CF&V grantees, and participating retailers are working together to restart the program as soon as possible.
- Who is eligible?
- All current and former CalFresh households with an active EBT food balance who shop at participating retailers and farmers’ markets are eligible. While the project is paused, no additional CF&V incentives will be issued. Previously earned incentive benefits remaining on EBT cards may still be used until they expire.
- Where can I use the incentive?
- While the incentive can only be earned at approved grocery stores and farmers’ markets participating in the pilot, once earned they can be used at any retailer that accepts CalFresh EBT cards. Previously earned CF&V incentive benefits may continue to be used anywhere CalFresh EBT benefits are accepted until the benefits expire.
- How much can I receive?
- You can receive a dollar-for-dollar match up to $60 per month when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. While the project is paused, participants will not receive new CF&V incentive dollars.
- Do I need to sign up or complete any forms?
- No application or forms are required. However, while the project is paused, no new CF&V incentive benefits will be issued.
- What happens if I do not spend earned benefits?
- Once earned, incentive benefits are yours to keep. You do not have to spend down your incentives to receive additional incentives the following month.
Your CalFresh benefits, including CF&V incentive benefits, only expire if you do not make an EBT food purchase for 270 days. Once they expire, you cannot get them back.
- Does pausing the CF&V Pilot affect my regular CalFresh benefits?
- No. Your CalFresh benefits will not change because of the CF&V Pilot pause.
- Why does the ebtEDGE mobile app and cardholder portal still show Month-To-Date earned and redeemed incentives as if the CF&V Pilot is paused?
- The ebtEDGE mobile app and cardholder portal will continue to display $60 in maximum monthly incentives during the pause period. Earned and Redeemed incentives will stay at $0.00 until the program restarts and a qualifying purchase is made.
- I purchased eligible fruits and vegetables but did not receive new incentive benefits. Why not?
- During the pause, participants will not earn new CF&V incentives. The ebtEDGE mobile app and cardholder portal will only display incentives earned during the current month. However, previously earned incentive benefits from prior months are included in the available balance for food benefits and can be spent on food purchases.
- I do not have the “Month-To-Date Incentive Program Summary” listed on the ebtEDGE mobile app or cardholder portal. Does this mean the CF&V program is not available to me?
- The Month-To-Date Incentive Program Summary only appears if a qualifying purchase of fruit and vegetables was ever made with a qualifying retailer. If you never made a qualifying purchase at a participating retailer, it will never appear.
- CF&V County Letters
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