For immediate release: September 3, 2004 (04-103)

Contacts:
Cathy Franklin, state WIC nutrition coordinator 360-236-3648
Kate Lynch, Communications Office 360-236-4072

OLYMPIA ¾ A last minute increase in federal funding has allowed the state Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program to provide many more mothers and children with fresh fruits and vegetables. The project is part of the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program. The additional $380,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) brings total federal funds for the project this year to $760,000.

Federal officials notified the WIC program in early August that additional federal funding was available for program expansion immediately. Since the program runs July through October, state officials scrambled to take advantage of the opportunity.

The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides families participating in WIC with checks to use at farmers markets across the state during the summer and fall. The new funding benefits families and farmers in Washington by:

"Our strong partnership with the Washington State Farmers Market Association (WSFMA), farmers markets and local WIC agencies across the state allowed us to seize this last minute opportunity and use the funds immediately," said state WIC program director Kim Wallace. "The farmers market program improves access to healthy foods and, at the same time, supports Washington farmers."

Washington WIC began offering the FMNP in 1989 as one of 10 demonstration sites providing checks to 7,000 families at six markets. Administering the program through existing WIC clinics makes it both efficient and effective. Local clinics provide WIC services to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age five all year, while the FMNP is offered only during the summer and fall. Last year, WIC provided 260,000 participants with nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and improved access to health services and nutritious foods. More than 48 percent of all infants born in the state receive the health benefits of WIC.

WIC is the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The Department of Health Web site has more information on the Washington WIC Program (www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/WIC). Additional details about the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (http://nutrition.wsu.edu/markets) and the Washington Farmers Market Association (http://wafarmersmarkets.com/) are also available on-line. A list of farmers markets and WIC clinics participating in the 2004 FMNP is attached.

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