The program formerly known as WIC Project FRESH, now called WIC Produce Connection, is changing. Beginning this year, the program is eliminating the use of paper vouchers by program participants and adding benefits directly onto the participant’s WIC EBT card. Due to this change, farmers markets are no longer able to accept these benefits on behalf of the farmers that attend their markets. Instead, each farmer or grower must now apply directly on their own to participate in the program and obtain the ability to process the WIC EBT card either through a smartphone app or a point-of-sale (POS) device.
MIFMA has created a Frequently Asked Questions resource to assist farmers markets, community-driven marketplaces, and vendors during this transition. The information in this resource was collected by MIFMA from staff at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services WIC division, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services resources, and other partners. MIFMA is not the administrator or operator of the WIC Produce Connection program.
To sign up as an authorized grower in the program, please email mdhhs-produceconnection@michigan.gov. If you have additional questions about these changes, please email foodaccess@mifma.org.