# Understanding the SHOPP Act

The SHOPP Act (Supporting all Healthy Options when Purchasing Produce Act) makes changes to a federal nutrition program that helps low-income families buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Right now, this program mainly focuses on fresh produce, but it only works during certain times of the year when fresh fruits and vegetables are readily available. The bill expands what counts as eligible food by adding frozen fruits and vegetables, and also includes legumes like beans and lentils, to the list of items families can purchase with nutrition incentives year-round.

Here's what this means in practical terms: Imagine a family in a rural area or a place with harsh winters where fresh produce is hard to find or expensive during certain months. Under the current system, their nutrition incentive benefits might not be as useful in the off-season. With this bill, they could use those same benefits to buy frozen broccoli, frozen berries, or canned beans any time of year, getting the same nutritional value. Frozen produce is often just as nutritious as fresh (sometimes even more so, since it's frozen at peak ripeness) and is typically cheaper and more available year-round, especially in areas that are difficult to serve with fresh produce delivery.

The bill also specifically aims to help "hard-to-serve areas"—places like rural communities or urban food deserts where people have limited access to grocery stores. By allowing frozen and legume options, families in these areas have better chances of actually using their nutrition benefits throughout the entire year rather than having them go unused during months when fresh produce is scarce or unaffordable. The changes take effect on March 6, 2024.

SHOPP Act

Crockett, Jasmine

Supporting all Healthy Options when Purchasing Produce Act or the SHOPP ActThis bill modifies the&nbsp;Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program&nbsp;(GusNIP), which provides grants for projects that provide incentives for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase fruits and vegetables.&nbsp;Specifically, the bill amends GusNIP to require the Department of Agriculture to give priority to projects that&nbsp;increase year-round availability of nutrition incentives by offering fresh frozen fruits or vegetables in the program. The bill also amends the GusNIP Produce Prescription Program to include fresh frozen fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh and fresh frozen legumes. Currently, only fresh fruits and vegetables are covered under the program. (This program supports projects that demonstrate and evaluate the impact of fruit and vegetable prescriptions on&nbsp;increasing procurement and consumption of fruits and vegetables, reducing individual and household food insecurity, and reducing healthcare usage and associated costs.)&nbsp;