Congress is weighing a plan that could put an extra $60 a month in the pockets of eligible families specifically for fruits and vegetables, a move that comes as many Americans still feel the sting of high grocery bills.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) introduced the Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act in July. The bill would set up a U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program where participating states could give qualifying households an additional $60 per month to buy fresh, frozen, or dried fruits and vegetables. SNAP recipients who meet income rules would automatically qualify, and eligible households not currently in SNAP could also apply.

Who Qualifies

Under the proposal, states would distribute the extra benefit through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards. Households earning 80% or less of their area's median income would qualify, with income limits varying by location.

The bill creates a competitive grant program for states, with priority given to those serving communities with higher levels of food insecurity. The legislation draws inspiration from Seattle's Fresh Bucks program, which lawmakers say improved food security and boosted participants' access to fresh produce.

"We must pass this legislation to expand the program nationwide and get families in every corner of the country healthy produce they can afford," Jayapal said when introducing the legislation.

Grocery Pressure

The proposal lands as many Americans continue to wrestle with rising food costs.

Earlier this month, an Urban Institute study found that more than one-quarter of working-age adults who used credit cards to buy groceries were unable to pay their balances in full or missed minimum payments. The study also found grocery prices have climbed 32% over the past five years, forcing many households to rely on buy now, pay later loans or emergency savings to pay for food.

Food affordability worries aren't just for lower-income households. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll found 66% of Americans said groceries had become unaffordable, including many households earning more than $100,000 annually.

Shoppers are also hunting for cheaper options. Earlier this month, The Kroger Co. (KR) was found to offer the lowest-priced basket of store-brand grocery staples among four major U.S. chains, underscoring how consumers are comparing prices as household budgets stay tight.

What's Next

The Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act has been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, where lawmakers will review the proposal before deciding whether to advance it for consideration by the full House. If approved by the House and Senate and signed by the president, the pilot program would allow participating states to start offering the additional produce benefit to eligible households.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a MarketDash editor.