US Representative Pramila Jayapal has introduced a bill to create a federal pilot scheme giving eligible households $60 a month to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. The proposal would extend support beyond SNAP recipients to some lower- and middle-income families, aiming to improve access to healthy food as grocery costs remain high; it is a bill, not a benefit currently available nationwide.

The Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act would run for five years, with the US Department of Agriculture awarding grants to states to operate the scheme. SNAP households would automatically qualify, while other households could be eligible if their income is at or below 80% of their local area’s median income; the funding could be spent only on qualifying produce. The pilot would collect data on uptake, food security, consumption and barriers to access.