The WIC Fruit and Vegetable Cash Voucher: Does Regional Price Variation Affect Buying Power?

Ephraim Leibtag and Aylin Kumcu

No 291947, Economic Information Bulletin from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods to low-income women, infants, and children at nutritional risk. Since October 2009, WIC packages have included a fi xed-value voucher for purchasing fruits and vegetables. Although this should help increase fruit and vegetable consumption for all WIC participants, regional price variation could lead to different buying power—and nutritional benefi ts—across the country. Using 2004-06 Nielsen Homescan data, the authors examine the prices of fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, and canned) in 26 metropolitan market areas to determine how price variations affect the voucher’s purchasing power. The authors fi nd that the 20 most commonly purchased fruits and vegetables cost 30-70 percent more in the highest priced market areas than in the lowest, implying that WIC participants in more expensive areas might be able to purchase fewer fruits and vegetables than those living where these items are cheaper. The lowest priced market for fruits and vegetables was the Nashville, Birmingham, Memphis, and Louisville area, while the highest was San Francisco.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Demand and Price Analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21
Date: 2011-05
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uersib:291947

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.291947

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