Pramila Jayapal / X/ @RepJayapal

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on July 2 introduced legislation aimed at making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable for low-income families by creating a federal pilot program based on Seattle's Fresh Bucks initiative.

The Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act would establish a pilot program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) providing households earning 80 percent or less of their area's median income with $60 per month to purchase fresh produce.

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"As families struggle to keep food on the table, Congress must prioritize work on efforts to lower costs and help Americans stay afloat," Jayapal said in a statement.

"While Republicans in Congress enacted legislation to raise food prices and are hellbent on cutting food assistance, Seattle is once again leading the way with the Fresh Bucks program, which is successfully keeping people fed with nutritious food and reducing hunger. We must pass this legislation to expand the program nationwide and get families in every corner of the country healthy produce they can afford," she added.

The proposal draws on Seattle's Fresh Bucks program, which, according to Jayapal's office, has increased food security by 31 percent among participants. The program has also encouraged healthier eating habits, with participants reporting they consume at least three servings of fruits and vegetables a day 37 percent more often.

The legislation has received backing from food security advocates, community organizations, and the fresh produce industry.

"The International Fresh Produce Association is grateful to Representative Jayapal for introducing the Fresh Bucks for Produce Act to make fruits and vegetables more accessible to income-eligible individuals," said Mollie Van Lieu, vice president of nutrition and health at the International Fresh Produce Association. 

"Minimizing barriers to fresh fruit and vegetable consumption means making the healthy choice the easy choice – and this bill would do just that,” she added.

Aaron Garcia, executive director of the White Center Community Development Association, said rising grocery costs continue to burden working families, seniors, immigrants, and low-income households.

"Access to healthy, culturally relevant food should not be determined by income—it should not be considered a luxury," Garcia said, adding that expanding the Seattle Fresh Bucks model through a federal pilot could improve food security while supporting local producers, retailers, and neighborhood businesses.

Adam Porter, director of Meals on Wheels at Sound Generations, said the Seattle program has significantly improved participants' health and quality of life.

"A USDA pilot modeled on that success would be a meaningful step toward healthier households and stronger community food systems nationwide," Porter said.

Joe Gruber, executive director of University District Food Bank, said fresh fruits and vegetables remain the most requested items at the organization's food pantries and that the proposal would help families access healthier food while strengthening local agriculture.

Food Lifeline chief executive officer Stephen Davis said food insecurity is driven not only by food shortages but also by the rising cost of nutritious food.

"This proposal builds on a proven model by helping families afford fresh fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers and food businesses," Davis said. "We applaud Congresswoman Jayapal for advancing an evidence-based approach that helps families put nutritious food on the table while strengthening local food systems."

The legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Alma Adams, Nanette Barragán, Chris Deluzio, Shomari Figures, Jahana Hayes, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Andrea Salinas, Adam Smith, and Shri Thanedar.

The bill has also been endorsed by more than two dozen organizations, including the International Fresh Produce Association, Food Lifeline, Food & Water Watch, the National Education Association, Northwest Harvest, United Way of King County, University District Food Bank, and the White Center Community Development Association, among others.

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