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Project Overview
In September 2005, The New York State Divisionof Nutrition identified state funds to provide WIC families with children the opportunity to purchase vegetables and fruits at all 4,400 NYS WIC-authorized grocery stores.
This innovative project supported the Institute ofMedicine’s 2005 report, “WIC Food Packages-Timefor a Change,” and the Proposed Rule issued by USDA in August 2006 that recommend includingvegetables and fruits in the WIC food packages.
The purpose of this project was to:
support the State’s childhood obesity prevention efforts;
promote the consumption of vegetables and fruits among program participants; and
evaluate the process in preparation for the permanent addition of these products to the WIC food benefits by the USDA.
From January 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006, morethan 158,000 children (two to five years old) wereissued three WIC checks (with a value of $5.00 each)specifying the purchase of vegetables and fruits(fresh, frozen, canned).
Participants shopped with these checks through June 30, 2006.
Vegetables and Fruits Check
Fresh Canned Frozen
White Potatoes (all varieties)
Items from the Salad Bar
Nuts, including Peanuts
White Potatoes
Items in Plastic containers or Glass Jars
White Potatoes
French Fries, Hash Browns, Tater Tots, or other shaped potatoes
Vegetables with sauces
Vegetables mixed with pasta or rice
Acceptable Foods• Most Vegetables and Fruits were allowed for purchase by WIC participants.
• The list of “not allowed” items was small for ease of administration at the store.
The project was well received by participants, WIC local agencies and the vendor community.
“I am glad to be able to sell new types of foods to WIC Participants.” WIC Vendor, New York
City
“I really love buying fruits with my WIC checks. Please continue this special program.”
WIC Mom, Syracuse, NY
Project Report
Describes:Project Development & Implementation
Details:Project Outcomes
Is available on the NYS DOH Website:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/nutrition/wic/docs/vegetable_fruit_demo_project.pdf
Would you like to see the NYS WIC Program continue to allow participants to buy
vegetables and fruits with WIC Checks?
Statewide
89.44%
2.95%
7.67%
Yes
No
Not Sure
Would you buy more vegetables and fruits if it were allowed in your WIC Food Package?
97.18%
1.48%
1.35%
Yes
No
Unsure
Statewide
Did the stores you shopped at have most of the vegetables and fruits you wanted?
80.99%
18.37%0.64%
Always
Sometimes
Never
S tatewide
Working with the Vendor Community
Vendor Management Agencies
The Vendor Management Agencies (VMAs) are specialized local agencies that are contracted by New York State to perform WIC vendor (both grocery store and pharmacy) enrollment, training, and monitoring.
Training was provided to the VMAs on the demonstration project through a series of conference calls.
In October 2005, the VMAs began promoting the project among the vendor community during routine onsite monitoring visits and during vendor training sessions.
Vendor Management Agencies (Continued)
A preliminary grocery store survey to obtain information on the status of the demonstration project throughout the six- month check redemption period was developed.
This survey was distributed by the VMAs during onsite visits to stores and during vendor training sessions.
Valuable information was obtained on product availability and store perceptions on the project.
Vendor Organizations
One of the major challenges of implementing a project of this magnitude within such a short time frame was obtaining the cooperation and understanding of the vendor community.
Project team members met with two major grocery store associations in October and November 2005, to brief them on the demonstration project prior to formally notifying the 4,400 NYS WIC authorized grocery stores.
Vendor Organizations (Continued)
Given the timeframe for implementation and conflicts with the busy holiday season, vendor organizations identified serious issues with the initial project design which included a large list of “not allowed” products:
There would be insufficient time for training store personnel and making modifications to stores’ computer systems to only identify the allowable products.
In response to these valid concerns, the project team made modifications to the list of allowable products so that most vegetables and fruits were allowed.
WIC Vendors
All 4,400 NYS WIC grocery stores were notified about the demonstration project through an informational bulletin that was distributed in early December 2005.
Preparing For The New WIC Food
Benefits
2007 & 2008 Vegetable and Fruit Projects
NYS WIC was able to once again able to provide child participants the $5.00 Vegetables & Fruits checks from January – March 2007.
In 2008, the benefit was expanded to include women in addition to children.
NYS WIC is well-positioned to implement the vegetables & fruit benefit that is one of the new WIC food benefits approved by USDA.
New WIC Foods
Whole Grains (cereal, bread, tortillas, brown rice, bulgar, oatmeal, barley).
Vegetables & Fruits (fresh, frozen, canned).
Baby Food (vegetables, fruits, meats).
Soy Products (soy-beverages, tofu)
Canned Fish Alternatives (salmon, sardines, mackerel).
Canned Beans
Working With WIC Vendors
Through one of the vendor management agencies (MHRA) NYS WIC sponsored a project in 2007 to increase the availability of low-fat milk in small stores.
NYS WIC is currently in the process of receiving information from food companies on the new foods.
New foods will be selected and stocking requirements developed for WIC vendors.
Based on federal regulations WIC Vendors will be required to stock at least one whole grain cereal and at least two different varieties of fruits and two different varieties of vegetables.
Current stocking requirements for milk may be modified to include specific quantities of low-fat milk.
Questions ?