CALIFORNIA STATE – Some California grocery shoppers can earn up to $60 a month in extra food benefits simply by buying fresh fruits and vegetables with their CalFresh EBT card at participating stores.
The CalFresh Fruit and Vegetable EBT Pilot Project restarted October 1, according to the California Department of Social Services. It offers a dollar-for-dollar match on eligible produce purchases, with the extra money added to shoppers’ EBT accounts.
How the $60 Grocery Benefit Works
Shoppers use their CalFresh food benefits to pay for eligible fresh fruits and vegetables at a participating location. The program automatically adds matching benefits to their EBT account at checkout, up to the monthly limit. No separate application is required, according to Santa Clara County’s program guidance.
For example, a shopper who spends $20 in CalFresh benefits on qualifying produce can earn $20 back, assuming they have not reached the cap.
The purchases do not need to happen all at once. Shoppers can earn the match over multiple trips during the month.
Once earned, the money can pay for any CalFresh-eligible food, including bread, dairy, grains and meat, according to the program’s participant FAQ. It can also buy more produce. The credit can be spent at any retailer accepting CalFresh EBT, giving shoppers flexibility about where to make their next grocery purchase.
Who Qualifies?
CDSS says current CalFresh recipients can participate. Former recipients who still have a balance of EBT food benefits can also earn incentives by making eligible purchases at participating locations.
The match depends on paying with CalFresh benefits. A produce purchase paid for with cash or a regular debit card does not earn the incentive. Participants’ receipts show how much they have earned during the transaction and that month.
The Program Depends on Available Funding
California’s 2026-27 spending plan provided $20 million to extend the pilot, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. CDSS says it will operate while funding remains available.
Earned benefits can carry over into later months. Under some countys’ guidance, the incentives expire if a household goes 270 days without making an EBT food purchase.
