Arkansas WIC Approved Foods

Arkansas WIC benefits load onto an eWIC card accepted at WIC-authorized grocery stores statewide. Your monthly food package — covering items like milk, eggs, cheese, whole grains, cereal, juice, and infant formula — depends on your participant category and is set at your certification appointment. The free My Arkansas WIC app lets you check your balance, scan barcodes to confirm whether an item is approved, and find nearby authorized stores.

The Cash Value Benefit for Fruits and Vegetables

Every WIC participant receives a monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB) to buy fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables at authorized stores. For the current benefit year, the CVB is $26 a month for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. You can spend more than the benefit amount and pay the difference yourself. Benefits do not roll over month to month, so use them before your benefit period ends.

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program

Arkansas WIC participants (except infants under one year old) can receive WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons — separate from your regular monthly benefits — on a first-come, first-served basis at certification appointments from May through August, or by requesting them at your local health unit starting June 1. Coupons must be spent at authorized farmers' markets between June and October, and federal rules require using them by October 15 each year or losing the benefit. Ask your local health unit whether it participates, since not every county office issues FMNP coupons.

Shopping Tips for Arkansas WIC

Use the My Arkansas WIC app to scan barcodes at the store and instantly check whether a product is approved before you check out. Look for WIC shelf tags for brand-specific items like cereal and soy beverage, where only certain brands and flavors are covered. If an item won't scan as approved, check your printed shopping list or call your local health unit — WIC staff can confirm the current approved product list for your benefit category.