Update 2026-09-27: paused now, resumes October 1, 2026, and there are no Nevada County stores. CDSS says the pilot "resumes October 1, 2026" with "$20 million in additional funding" from the Budget Act of 2026, and "will continue to operate while funding is available." While it is paused, no new match dollars are earned; benefits already on your card can still be used. No participating store is in Nevada County. Current locations are in Santa Clara, Alameda, Monterey, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Imperial counties, and CDSS says the pilot "is not being expanded to new retail locations." This update replaces the older notes below. [Source: CDSS CF&V Pilot Project page (fetched 2026-09-27)]
Last verified 2026-05-17. The CalFresh Fruit & Vegetable (CF&V) EBT Pilot Project relaunched on November 17, 2025 with $10 million in new state funding and is active statewide at participating retailers. [Source: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project (accessed 2026-05-17)]
What you get
If you get CalFresh, you can earn $1 back on your EBT card for every $1 you spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at a participating store or farmers' market, up to $60 per month per household. You can spend that $60 on any CalFresh-eligible food at any CalFresh retailer — it doesn't have to be produce. [Source: doubleupca.org/how-it-works-cfv (accessed 2026-05-17)]
As of February 2026, more than 75,000 California households were earning these rebates each month. [Source: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Who qualifies
- You must have an active CalFresh (EBT) case in California.
- No application or sign-up is required. The match is added to your EBT card automatically when you buy qualifying produce at a participating location.
- Both new and returning CalFresh households qualify.
How to use it
- Shop at a participating retailer or farmers' market (list below).
- Pay for fresh, whole, unprepared fruits and vegetables with your EBT card. Frozen, canned, dried, and prepared produce do not count toward the match.
- Your $1-for-$1 match is added to your EBT card automatically — usually that same day.
- Spend the earned credits on any CalFresh-eligible food at any CalFresh retailer. There's no rush — earned credits don't expire on their own, but standard CalFresh expungement rules apply if your EBT card sits unused for 274 days. [Source: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Where to shop
The pilot is run through three grantees. As of May 2026, participating locations include:
Fullwell / Double Up Food Bucks — Alameda, Santa Clara, Monterey, and Mendocino counties:
- Arteaga's Food Center — Gilroy, San Jose (Willow St, Lincoln Ave, Alum Rock Ave)
- Santa Fe Foods — San Jose, Newark, Salinas
- Harvest Market — Fort Bragg, Mendocino
Note: Monterey County locations are scheduled to wind down in summer 2026. [Source: doubleupca.org/how-it-works-cfv (accessed 2026-05-17)]
UC San Diego / Mother's Nutritional Center — about 82 store locations across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. Find your nearest store at mothersnc.com. [Source: mothersnc.com/pages/ca-fruit-vegetables-ebt-pilot (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Ecology Center — LA River Farmers' Market, Los Angeles. [Source: cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/ebt/california-fruit-vegetable-ebt-pilot-project (accessed 2026-05-17)]
In total, around 92 grocery stores plus one farmers' market participate statewide as of early 2026.
Common pitfalls
- Only fresh produce counts toward earning the match. Frozen, canned, dried, juiced, or pre-cut/pre-cooked items do not.
- The $60 cap is per household, per month — not per shopping trip.
- The match is added to your EBT card, not handed to you as a receipt or coupon. Check your balance through the EBT app or by calling the number on the back of your card.
- If a store advertises "Market Match" or "Double Up Food Bucks," that's the same family of incentives but the rules and limits can differ — ask staff which program is running that day.
Where to get help
- EBT card balance, lost or stolen card, transaction questions: 1-877-328-9677 (24/7, free).
- CalFresh general help: Call your county social services office or visit getcalfresh.org.
- Help finding food right now: Second Harvest Food Bank's Emergency Food Hotline, 1-800-984-3663. [Source: doubleupca.org/how-it-works-cfv (accessed 2026-05-17)]
- Recipes for CalFresh-friendly cooking: eatfresh.org.
What's next for the pilot
CDSS is required to submit a transition report to the Legislature by March 1, 2026 outlining how this pilot could become a permanent statewide program. Funding is secured through the 2025-26 state budget cycle. [Source: lee.asmdc.org/press-releases/20241126-calfresh-fruit-and-vegetable-pilot-relaunches-10-million-new-funding (accessed 2026-05-17)]
Background
Created by AB 1811 (2018), Welfare and Institutions Code §10072.3. The pilot tests a scalable model for boosting fresh fruit and vegetable purchases among CalFresh recipients in a way USDA-FNS authorized retailers can adopt later.
Freshness note (2026-05-30): The pilot is still active — 75,000+ households were earning the up-to-\$60/month match as of early 2026, with no sign-up required. Two things to know: (1) the \$60 monthly cap is shared across all participating sites (e.g., earn \$40 at a store, only \$20 left at the farmers' market) and resets on the 1st; (2) the program runs only as long as state funding lasts — current funding comes from the 2025–26 budget, and continuation past mid-2026 depends on the 2026–27 state budget still being negotiated (advocates are requesting \$100M). The LA River Farmers' Market site is funded through about November 2026. Check the CDSS program page for the latest before relying on it. [Source: cdss.ca.gov; Nourish California (accessed 2026-05-30)]