California Nutrition Incentive Program

CNIP supports shoppers using nutrition benefits (CalFresh, formerly known as food stamps, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program) by empowering them to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. For every benefit dollar they spend, shoppers receive an additional dollar that can be spent on fruits and vegetables at the market or retail outlet, within set parameters. Any nutrition benefit shopper can benefit from the program simply by spending their benefits at participating Certified Farmers Markets and other retail outlets. CNIP operates at selected Certified Farmers Markets, mobile markets, community supported agriculture programs, and retailers.

CNIP nutrition incentives also support California farmers, by increasing demand for their products. CNIP incentives can only be used for fresh California grown fruits and vegetables.

How CNIP Works

1	CalFresh shoppers use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards at participating Certified Farmers’ Markets.
2	CalFresh shoppers use their EBT cards to get scrip or tokens to use at the market. For every dollar of benefits they use, they get an additional $1 of CNIP match (usually up to $10) to spend on fruits and vegetables.
3	California Farmers selling at Certified Farmers’ markets benefit from the $1 for $1 match, which often represents increased sales.
4	CalFresh shoppers and their families are able to purchase more fruits and vegetables — benefiting their health, California farmers, and the local economy.

The California Nutrition Incentive Program is made possible through a robust public–private funding structure – including federal funding through the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), formerly the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) Grant Program, state general funds, and local partner support, including private donations, grants and in–kind contributions. CDFA was allocated $10 million from the state general fund to sustain the program in 2021-2022, and another $10 million in 2022-2023. CDFA was able to use that funding to apply for a competitive GusNIP grant of $12.898 million in 2022. CDFA also received a GusNIP Covid Relief and Response grant of $6.3 million in 2021 to meet the increased demand for nutrition incentives due to the Covid-19 pandemic. CDFA received a $7.1 million grant from the GusNIP program in 2019 and a $3.9 million grant from the FINI program in 2017. These grants were made possible by using state general funds as the required federal match. CNIP funds are awarded to Certified Farmers’ Markets, non-profit organizations, and small businesses through a competitive grant process.

CNIP was established by Assembly Bill 1321 (Chapter 442, Statutes of 2015), authored by Assembly member Phil Ting. State funding was provisionally provided through a one-time allocation in the Budget Act of 2016, contingent upon receipt of federal matching funds. CDFA was awarded $3.9 million in federal matching funds through the FINI grant program in 2017, allowing the program to start operations.

With joint funding from the California state general fund and the federal FINI grant program, CNIP first launched in July 2017. CNIP funded four grantees to provide nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers who purchase California grown fruits and vegetables at Certified Farmers Markets and mobile markets.

In summer of 2018, CNIP expanded and began offering incentives to low–income seniors participating in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, WIC families, and CalFresh shoppers at a variety of additional retail outlets, including neighborhood retail stores, Community Supported Agriculture programs, and Certified Farmers Markets.

In 2019, CDFA received a $7.1 million GusNIP grant to continue and expand offering nutrition incentives, both in farmers markets as well as other retail settings. The GusNIP grant and matching state dollars fund seven CNIP grantees to provide nutrition incentives to CalFresh (SNAP) shoppers. The state funding was provided in the 2018 state budget.

In the summer of 2020, CNIP awarded four projects to provide nutrition incentives to shoppers using WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program benefits.

In 2022, CNIP awarded seven projects with $13 million of federal matching from GusNIP, and released another round CNIP Expansion funding to WIC and Seniors FMNP program. Recipients of the latter grant were announced in the spring of 2023.

The following grantees will distribute incentives to shoppers using Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP), and Senior FMNP benefits.

• Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) ($44,709) will focus on providing technical assistance and support to eWIC and eFMNP shoppers along with farmer onboarding support at its 9 Certified Farmers’ Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Chico State Enterprises, Center for Healthy Communities (CHC) ($95,052) will coordinate with WIC and Senior FMNP to implement the Extra Bucks program at 4 rural farmers’ markets in Butte County.
• Etna Farmers Market ($130,000) will operate incentive distributions at 6 markets in Butte and Siskiyou Counties. Etna was funded in 2023 to operate one market and will now expand their program to five additional markets in Northern Central California.
• Extra Food ($183,377) will focus on senior FMNP incentive recipients at 35 markets in Sonoma, Marin, and San Francisco Counties through their “Bonus Bucks” program which has been supported by CNIP in previous years.
• Food Access Los Angeles (FALA) ($394,271) will provide technical assistance and incentives to WIC and Senior FMNP recipients at 13 markets in the LA region. FALA will work with Hunger Action LA (HALA) and Model Neighborhood Program (MNP).
• Pacific Coast Farmers Market Association (PCFMA) ($309,937) will distribute incentives for WIC and Senior FMNP shoppers and provide TA at 40 certified farmers’ markets in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Palm Springs Cultural Center ($23,478) is a new applicant from Riverside County that will offer incentives and support at their one market.
• North Coast Growers Association (NCGA) ($256,849) will operate their incentive program to WIC FMNP and Fruits and Vegetable Benefit recipients across 7 sites in Humboldt Country.
• North Coast Opportunities ($100,000) is a new applicant that will provide incentives and support at 8 markets in Mendocino and Lake Counties.
• TrueCare ($92,599) is a new applicant from San Diego County. They will offer incentives and support at 3 markets in San Diego, Vista and Carlsbad.
• Training, Employment and Community Help (TEACH) ($69,054) is a new applicant from Modoc and Lassen Counties. They will distribute incentives and provide support at 4 markets.

The awardees from this grant round began their work distributing nutrition incentives with Phase 1 funding in 2025. Phase 2 funding began in 2026.

• Acta Non Verba

  Acta Non Verba operates in West Oakland. They distribute incentives through 50% off Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes or a 1:1 match. Acta Non Verba is a new CNIP grantee as of 2024.
  Phase 1: $7,236.76
  Phase 2: $10,768.89

• Avenue 33 Farm

  Avenue 33 operates two neighborhood farm stands in Los Angeles. They distribute incentives in the form of a 75% discount. They are also the recipient of CDFA’s Urban Agriculture and Farm to School grants. Avenue 33 is a new CNIP grantee as of 2024.
  Phase 1: $109,947.31
  Phase 2: $235,758.29

• Chico Natural Foods Co-Op

  The Chico Co-Op provides incentives to CalFresh shoppers at their retail store in the form of a 75% discount. The Chico Co-Op has been a previous CNIP grantee, receiving funding in 2019 and 2023.
  Phase 1: $95,000.00
  Phase 2: $305,000.00

• Community Health Trust

  Community Health Trust operates at a farmers’ market in Watsonville. They provide incentives as a 1:2 voucher. They are a new CNIP grantee as of 2024.
  Phase 1: $24,100.00
  Phase 2: $153,468.43

• Community Services Unlimited Inc.

  Community Services Unlimited Inc. runs a food retail social enterprise, The Village Market Place, in Los Angeles and provides incentives as a 1:2 voucher. They are a new CNIP grantee as of 2024.
  Phase 1: $35,294.43
  Phase 2: $153,468.43

• The Ecology Center

  The Ecology Center runs the Market Match incentive program at farmers’ markets throughout the state. They provide incentives at 269 sites (farmers’ markets, farm stands, CSAs, and mobile market stops). These can be located on the Ecology Center’s Farmers’ Market Finder. The Ecology Center has been a CNIP recipient since its inception in 2017 and remains the largest CNIP grantee.
  Phase 1: $7,721,537.23
  Phase 2: $17,964,470.47

• The Food Trust

  The Food Trust distributes incentives at three Lucky 7 Supermarkets and Las Palmas Mercado in San Jose.
  Phase 1: $287,510.64
  Phase 2: $911,271.72

• Los Angeles Food Policy Council

  The Los Angeles Food Policy Council provides incentives in the form of discounted, CA-grown produce bundles at six small retail stores in the Los Angeles Area.
  Phase 1: $132,520.19
  Phase 2: $667,806.35

• Montage Health

  Montage Health, formerly known as Aspire Health, works in collaboration with the Blue Zones Project in Monterey County. They operate a Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program at six retail stores and distribute incentives in the form of a 50% discount. Aspire received previous CNIP funding in 2022 and used those funds in Phase 1 of this grant.
  Phase 1: Not applicable
  Phase 2: $923,073.27

• Shasta Growers Association

  Shasta Growers provides incentives at five certified farmers’ markets in Shasta County at a 50% discount.
  Phase 1: $53,935.50
  Phase 2: $94,926.13

• Saticoy Food Hub

  Saticoy Food Hub is located in Ventura County and provides incentives at their farmers’ market using tokens at a 1:3 ratio.
  Phase 1: $27,533.45
  Phase 2: $40,777.50

• With Love Market and Café

  With Love Market and Café provides incentives at their retail store in Los Angeles.
  Phase 1: $13,244.27
  Phase 2: $105,386.02

The following organizations received CNIP funding to distribute CalFresh incentives in previous years.

• Centennial Farm Foundation (2019) supported agricultural and youth–related education programs. Centennial partnered with the Orange County Health Care Agency and distributed nutrition incentives at the Costa Mesa Farmers' Market.
• Chico Natural Foods Co Op (2019/2022) is a current CNIP grantee. See 2025 CNIP grantees for description.
• Downtown Napa Farmers' Market (2017) Downtown Napa Certified Farmers' Market provided nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers at the market. In addition, the Market also provided nutrition education programming, including cooking classes for families, at the market to encourage healthy eating.
• The Ecology Center (2017/2018/2019/2020/2021/2022) is a current CNIP grantee. See 2025 CNIP grantees for description.
• Los Angeles Food Policy Council (2019/2022) is a current CNIP grantee. See 2025 CNIP grantees for description.
• Mandela Partners (2018/2019/2020/2023) worked in partnership with local residents, family farmers, and community–based businesses to run its incentive program for CalFresh shoppers at retail stores and farm stands in Alameda County.
• Montage Health (previously Aspire; 2022) is a current CNIP grantee. See 2025 CNIP grantees for description.
• North Figueroa Association (2017,2019, 2020) distributed nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers at the Old LA & Lincoln Heights Certified Farmers’ Markets in Los Angeles.
• The Food Trust (2019/2022/2024) is a current CNIP grantee. See 2025 CNIP grantees for description.
• Wellington Square Certified Farmers' Market (2017) distributed incentives and held monthly Nutrition Incentive Festivals to attract CalFresh customers to the Markets and provided an array of family-friendly, nutrition focused activities.

The following organizations received CNIP Expansion funding in previous years to distribute incentives to shoppers using Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits.

• Agricultural Institute of Marin (2025) provided technical support to eWIC and eFMNP shoppers along with farmer onboarding support at Certified Farmers’ Markets served by AIM in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Chico State Enterprises (2022/2023/2025) provided incentives to WIC and Senior FMNP shoppers at 4 sites in Butte County.
• California State University, Northridge (2023), with the Ventura County WIC program provided incentives for WIC FMNP shoppers at 5 farmers market in Ventura County.
• Center for Healthy Communities-Chico State (2025) provided incentives to WIC and Senior FMNP shoppers at 4 sites in Butte County.
• Etna Farmers Market (2023) matched FMNP benefits in Etna, Siskiyou County.
• Extra Food (2023/2025) partnered with Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative and provided Senior FMNP incentives at 16 farmers markets and mobile market stops in Marin County.
• Food Access Los Angeles (FALA; 2025) provided incentives to WIC and Senior FMNP recipients at 11 CFM within the LA region. FALA worked with Hunger Action LA (HALA) and Model Neighborhood Program (MNP). FALA, formerly Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA), also received a CNIP grant in 2020.
• Hunger Action Los Angeles (HALA; 2022/2023) partnered with other community-based organizations (FALA/MNP) to match FMNP benefits at 23 Certified Farmers’ Markets in the Los Angeles area.
• Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative (2018/2022) provided nutrition incentives to low-income SMFNP and CalFresh shoppers purchasing produce through CSAs and farm stands. The project operated at faith–based sites in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• The Model Neighborhood Program (2020/2022) provided incentives to WIC and Senior FMNP shoppers at three sites in Los Angeles. MNP participated in the 2024 CDFA/CDPH pilot e-benefits program and has been a partner with FALA and HALA.
• North Coast Growers Association (2025) operated their incentive program to WIC FMNP and Fruits and Vegetable Benefit recipients across seven sites in Humboldt Country. NCGA also participated in the CDFA/CDPH pilot e-benefits program in 2024.
• Pacific Coast Farmers' Market (Association (2020/2022/2023/2025) distributed incentives for WIC and Senior FMNP shoppers and provide technical assistance at Certified Farmers’ Markets in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 2025 grant funded incentive distribution at 34 markets in 23 cities.
• Petaluma Bounty (2023) operated under the Petaluma People Services Center and provided incentives to 23 farmers’ markets in Marin County.
• St. Barnabas Senior Center (2025) provided technical assistance at farmers markets in the LA region. SBSS provided services including training and transportation for SFMNP clients to reach farmers’ markets.
• The City of Rialto (2022) matched SFMNP benefits at the city run Certified Farmers’ Market in Rialto, CA.
• The Visalia Farmers’ Market Association (2018/2020/2022) provided incentives to WIC and SFMNP shoppers at 3 Certified Farmers’ Markets in Tulare County.