Bill: Defining Mobile Farmers Markets & Welcoming WIC

The Agricultural Institute of Marin and Fresh Approach are co-sponsoring a state bill (AB 2786), authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta. This bill would amend the California Retail Food Code to include a new definition for mobile farmers’ market and direct the CA Dept of Public Health to establish criteria for the authorization of mobile farmers’ markets when establishing criteria for vendor authorization in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

Mobile Farmers’ Markets (MFMs) are a proven and innovative model for bringing affordable, local, culturally relevant produce to low-income and underserved communities. The California Mobile Farmers’ Market Coalition is a state network of non-profit organizations that operate or plan to operate MFMs, with five active MFMs operating across seven counties and MFMs in the planning stages in three additional counties.  MFMs are not currently able to be authorized as WIC vendors because the California Health and Safety Code does not have a specific legal definition of a mobile farmers’ market. In operating Mobile Farmers' Markets, we are able to accept CalFresh (SNAP) benefits through authorization by USDA/FNS, yet in California, WIC participants are unable to use their benefits to purchase healthy, local foods grown by local small and mid-size farmers. A change in state code would solve this problem through an important, community-driven food access solution.