WIC Program

Maine WIC Approved Foods

Updated September 2026

Once you're approved for Maine WIC, your benefits are loaded monthly onto a WIC card that works like a debit card at authorized stores. Here's what's covered, how to check whether a specific brand or item is approved, and how the cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables works.

Quick Answer

Maine WIC covers the same national food categories as every state — milk, eggs, cereal, whole grains, fruits and vegetables (via a cash-value benefit), juice, beans, and infant formula — but the specific approved brands, sizes, and quantities are set by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. See the full Maine list below.

Approved WIC Foods in Maine

Maine WIC food benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card, redeemable at authorized grocery stores statewide. The free WICShopper app lets participants scan product barcodes to confirm approval, check their current balance, and view the Maine WIC approved food list. Approved items include milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, plant-based beverages, tofu, whole grains, peanut butter, canned fish, beans and lentils, and infant foods and formula.

Cash Value Benefit for Fruits and Vegetables

Every participant receives a monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB) to buy fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables without added sugar, salt, or fats — currently $26 a month for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. Benefits do not roll over month to month, so use them before the end of each benefit period.

Buying Directly from Maine Farms

Maine's CVB can be used year-round not just at grocery stores but directly at authorized Maine farms, farm stands, and farmers' markets — a benefit not every state offers. Because farmers can't scan an eWIC card, participants generate a barcode through the free Bnft app or at mybnft.com to present at the farm. Each summer, participants also typically receive additional Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits to spend exclusively with Maine-based farmers — ask your local WIC office for current season dates and amounts.

Shopping Tips for Maine WIC

Use the WICShopper app to scan barcodes at checkout and confirm an item is approved before you're at the register, especially for bread and whole-grain items where the approved brand list is extensive and updated periodically. Look for WIC shelf tags at participating stores. If an item won't scan as approved, check the current Maine WIC food list in the app or ask your local agency for the latest Approved Product List. One Maine-specific note: WIC cannot cover the state's 5-cent bottle deposit on 64-ounce juice bottles, so budget for that separately at checkout.

Maine WIC Approved Food Questions

How much is the Maine WIC Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables each month?

The monthly Cash Value Benefit is $26 for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. Benefits do not roll over from month to month, so use them before the end of each benefit period.

Can Maine WIC participants buy produce directly from local farms?

Yes. Maine's Cash Value Benefit works year-round at authorized Maine farms, farm stands, and farmers' markets, in addition to grocery stores. Since farmers can't accept the eWIC card, participants use the free Bnft app or mybnft.com to generate a barcode to present at the farm.

How do I check if a product is approved under my Maine WIC benefits?

Use the free WICShopper app to scan barcodes in the store and check your current balance. If an item won't scan as approved, check the current Maine WIC approved food list in the app or contact your local WIC agency.

Compare Other States

Approved foods, brands, and package sizes are set state by state. These share Maine's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the same program.

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