In Response to Demands from Food Security Advocates, State Legislature Proposes Over $30m Restoration for Market Match Program
Funding would provide low-income residents with farm-direct fruits and vegetables and support local farmers’ markets
As part of the Budget negotiations, the California Legislature has proposed reinstating full funding for the California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) in their two party agreement, which, if signed by the Governor, would ensure continued access to fresh produce for thousands of low-income shoppers and support for small farmers statewide. This proposal comes amid a significant state budget deficit, which has meant many difficult decisions for state budget leaders. As Budget negotiations are set to wrap by the end of the month, advocates are asking the Governor to maintain the funding for this vital food safety-net program that is utilized by thousands of low-income shoppers statewide to buy California-grown fruits and vegetables directly from farmers.
CNIP supports funding for Market Match, which matches CalFresh SNAP/EBT spending (formerly known as food stamps) at more than 290 farm-direct sites across 39 counties in California. In 2023, Market Match led to more that $19.4 million in combined CalFresh and Market Match benefit spending at California farmers markets, mobile markets, and farm stands. Last year in the city of San Francisco alone, there were 12 Market Match farmers’ market sites where the program led to $5.3 million in spending by low-income shoppers directly with small and mid-sized producers. This represents an estimated 10+ million servings of fruits and vegetables to San Francisco households.
Last year’s 2023-24 budget signed by the Governor included $35 million for CNIP, but in January that funding was cut from the 2024-25 budget proposal, as California faced a huge shortfall. As a result, a coalition of more than 250 organizations and thousands of other stakeholders came together to form the “Save Market Match Coalition.” Since January, the coalition has been working to convince the Governor and the Legislature to reinstate CNIP in the state budget.
“CNIP supports food security, but it also supports a healthier and more sustainable local food system, because the dollars spent go directly to small and mid-sized farmers,” said Minni Forman, Food and Farming Program Director at Ecology Center, the lead organization for Market Match. “CNIP’s impact is maximized by drawing down critical federal matching funds. Since 2017, CNIP has brought more than $30 million of federal matching dollars into our state.”
The Program has broad support and numerous state legislators have come out in support of preserving the Program in the budget, including its long-time champion, the author of AB 1321, Assemblymember Phil Ting Asm. Ting. He commented, "We must preserve this vital program to ensure these health and economic benefits last in our underserved communities. Without our continued investment, we’d lose the important gains we’ve made in improving health and stimulating small business growth,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).
In addition, numerous Board of Supervisors have passed resolutions in support of reinstating CNIP in the State budget, including the San Francisco Board of Supervisors . Supervisor Dean Preston in District 5 introduced the resolution and shared about the importance to San Franciscans, “Without this vital program, over 100,000 San Franciscans who receive CalFresh benefits would lose the opportunity to increase their spending power on healthy fruits and vegetables. We are thankful that the State Legislature took a stand against the Governor’s proposed cuts, and we will continue working with residents, food security advocates, and farmers’ markets to make sure the final budget signed by the Governor includes this funding. It’s absolutely essential to the health and well being of my constituents.”
CNIP and programs funded by it, like Market Match, make impacts in real San Franciscans’ lives. Siu Cheung, member of the Tenderloin Chinese Rights Association in San Francisco, has been involved with the campaign. “Market Match is very important to me to buy food to make my body more healthy,” Cheung said. “Because there are no large supermarkets in the Tenderloin, I usually go to the Heart of the City Farmers’ Market with many friends who live in the Tenderloin to buy fresh produce. When I use EBT to shop at the farmers market my food is doubled. Please continue providing funding for Market Match in California for many low-income people who are hungry. We are hungry!”
The budget is in its final steps of negotiation between the legislature and the Governor, before being constitutionally mandated to be passed by the Legislature and sent to the Governor by June 15. This program’s broad base of supporters continued to vocalize its myriad benefits: addressing food insecurity, supporting small and mid-sized California farmers and rural communities, and bringing critical federal dollars into the state. Supporters argue, an investment in CNIP is an investment in the people of California.
