A popular California program that provides free fruits and vegetables to low-income families is facing financial difficulties. The pilot program, which gives CalFresh recipients a dollar-for-dollar match on fresh produce purchases at participating retailers, is set to end in mid-April unless additional funding is secured. Assemblymember Alex Lee, a Democrat from Milpitas, is requesting $30 million from California’s tight budget to extend the program through June 2025.
Meanwhile, the Legislature has approved several of the governor’s more modest anti-hunger proposals, including a summer program offering $40 per month in food assistance benefits for each eligible child, a significant decrease from the $125 per month provided last summer. Lawmakers have also approved the expansion of California’s food assistance program for undocumented immigrants 55 and older, set to begin in late 2025.
The governor’s May budget proposal included a total of $2.7 billion in state and federal funding for anti-hunger programs. However, the Legislature’s budget includes several additional food benefits not included in the governor’s proposal:
