SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is currently accepting proposals for the 2020 California Nutrition Incentive Program, or CNIP.

CNIP was established to encourage the purchase and consumption of fresh California grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts by nutrition benefit clients.

Authority for CNIP is derived from Assembly Bill 1321 (Chapter 442, Statutes of 2015) authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting.

The program is administered by the Office of Farm to Fork, which leads CDFA’s food access work.

For the 2020 CNIP request for proposals, or RFP, CDFA is seeking project proposals from eligible entities to distribute nutrition incentives to CalFresh shoppers using their benefits to purchase fresh, California grown fruits and vegetables at direct marketing outlets (Certified Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture programs and farm stands) and small businesses in California.

CalFresh shoppers should be able to receive the incentive at the time of purchase.

Projects that reach underserved populations, particularly communities where a large proportion of the population is eligible for CalFresh and communities with high rates of diet-related disease, will be prioritized.

The intent of this RFP is to select project proposals to combine into one unified state application for CDFA submission to the federal Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Grant Program (also known as the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive grant program, FINI).

Through CNIP and the Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program competition also currently open, CDFA strives to increase value and access to fresh, CA-grown produce for shoppers with low incomes in a variety of retail settings.

CNIP proposals are due Tuesday, May 28, by 6 p.m. More information including the request for proposals and application template, can be found at http://cafarmtofork.com/cnip.html .