CA Fruit and Veggie EBT Incentives: Ending April 14th, 2024 + Double Up will continue at La Princessa markets
On April 14, 2024, the CA Fruit and Veggie EBT Pilot will end across California. The funding for this pilot program has been expended very quickly due to both the efficiency of delivering supplemental benefits and the popularity of the program among California families. The program may restart if California state leaders allocate additional funding in the 2024-2025 California Budget which will be signed by July 2024.
Double Up Food Bucks will continue at La Princessa markets and will not be affected due to being funded through a different state grant. The instant discount when purchasing California-grown fruits and veggies will continue at La Princessa past April 14th.
Grid of produce in plastic bins stacked horizontally on shelf in grocery store
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening to the Fruit and Veggie Pilot?
The Fruit and Veggie EBT Pilot is ending on April 14th, which means no more incentives will be distributed after April 14th.
What about Double Up Food Bucks? Will it also end?
Double Up will NOT end on April 14th. This program is funded through a different grant within the CA Department of Food and Agriculture so it is not affected and will continue without interruption.
What does that mean? What is changing?
If you buy fruits and vegetables at a participating grocery store with your CalFresh dollars at Santa Fe Foods in Salinas, CA you won’t receive any incentive dollars for that purchase after April 14. You can still use CalFresh/EBT like you did before the program started. You will still receive a discount on Ca-grown fruit and veggie purchases at La Princessa.
Why did the Fruit and Veggie EBT Pilot end?
The money to run the program, which came from two separate allocations in the 2018 and 2023 California state budgets, is running out faster than expected.
Will the Fruit and Veggie EBT Pilot restart?
The program could restart in the summer if the California legislature and Governor provide more funding in the 2024-2025 state budget. Or, if funding isn’t provided this summer, it could restart at a later time depending on funding being made available.
When will we know if the Fruit and Veggie EBT Pilot will restart?
We won’t know until the California state budget is finalized, at the end of June 2024, whether the program will restart. We will provide an update in July at www.DoubleUpCA.org
What happens to the incentive dollars I earn before April 14th?
Any dollars you earn will stay in your account until you spend them. They will stay in your account as long as your regular CalFresh benefits are active.
Does the incentive money I earn or I have earned get taken back?
No, any money you earn or earned before April 14th will stay on your EBT card until you spend it. The dollars you earn will stay in your account as long as your regular CalFresh benefits are active.
My family is hungry and we were relying on this program. What do we do now?
If you are not already using Double Up Food Bucks at La Princessa markets, consider trying the program which will discount 50% off of any Ca-grown fruit and veggie purchases!
If you need emergency food assistance - please dial 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898-211 for more help or visit
Food 2-1-1 Monterey County. 2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week AND is free, confidential, and available in multiple languages.
The project is made possible by AB 1811 (2018) and supported by the California Department of Social Services.
For more background, visit SPUR’s website.
