Pennsylvania WIC Approved Foods
Updated September 2026
Once you're approved for Pennsylvania 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
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania Department of Health. See the full Pennsylvania list below.
Approved WIC Foods in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania WIC publishes an approved food list covering milk, cheese, eggs, whole grains, beans and legumes, canned fish, and infant formula, aligned with USDA's updated WIC food package rules that took effect in 2026. The current list is available at pawic.com and through the WICShopper app in English and Spanish.
Pennsylvania WIC Food Package Overview
Milk and dairy: whole milk for children under 2 and low-fat or nonfat options for older children and women, plus cheese, yogurt, and soy beverage.
Whole grains: bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oatmeal, and — as part of USDA's 2026 food package update — whole wheat tortillas, measured in ounces so households can mix and match approved grain products to reach their monthly allowance.
Beans, legumes, and protein: dried and canned beans, lentils, split peas, tofu, peanut butter, and canned tuna, salmon, or sardines for breastfeeding participants.
Fruits and vegetables: fresh, frozen, and canned produce of any brand or variety, purchased with the monthly Cash Value Benefit.
Infant formula: Pennsylvania manages a competitive bid contract for infant formula. The contract brand is issued by default, and medical documentation from a healthcare provider is required for non-contract or specialized formulas.
Cash Value Benefit for Fruits and Vegetables
Every participant receives a monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB) to buy fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables of any brand: $26 a month for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. These amounts are set federally and apply nationwide. Benefits do not roll over month to month, so use them before the end of each benefit period.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Program
Pennsylvania's WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) gives pregnant and postpartum women, infants six months and older, and children paper checks to spend on locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables at over 1,000 participating market and farm stand sites statewide. Checks are distributed by local WIC agencies and can be used between June 1 and November 30 each year.
Shopping Tips for Pennsylvania WIC
Use the WICShopper app to scan barcodes and confirm an item is approved before checkout. Your Pennsylvania WIC Smart Card works at authorized grocery stores statewide — find one near you with the store locator at pawic.com. If you suspect WIC benefit fraud, call the WIC Hotline at 1-800-WIC-WINS (1-800-942-9467).
Pennsylvania WIC Approved Food Questions
Are tortillas approved on Pennsylvania WIC?
Yes. Whole wheat tortillas were added to Pennsylvania's whole grains benefit as part of USDA's 2026 food package update. Your monthly whole grain benefit is measured in ounces, so you can mix and match approved grain products including tortillas, bread, brown rice, and pasta.
How much is the Pennsylvania WIC Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables?
The monthly Cash Value Benefit is $26 for children, $48 for pregnant or postpartum participants, and $52 for breastfeeding participants. These amounts are set federally and apply the same way in every state. Benefits do not roll over from month to month.
Does Pennsylvania WIC have a farmers' market program?
Yes. The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) gives eligible participants paper checks to spend on locally grown produce at over 1,000 market and farm stand sites statewide, usable between June 1 and November 30 each year. Ask your local WIC agency how to enroll.
Compare Other States
Approved foods, brands, and package sizes are set state by state. These share Pennsylvania's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the same program.
Helpful Guides
What Is WIC?
An overview of the WIC program, who administers it, and how it works.
Learn more →WIC Eligibility
The four requirements to qualify for WIC — categorical status, income, nutritional risk, and residency.
Learn more →WIC vs SNAP
Compare who qualifies, what benefits are provided, and whether you can receive both programs.
Learn more →WIC Income Limits
See the current household income limits to qualify for WIC, and what counts as income.
Learn more →WIC Benefit Amounts
The exact dollar and quantity breakdown of the monthly WIC food package by participant category.
Learn more →WIC EBT Card
How to use your WIC EBT card at the store, check your balance, and what to do if it's declined.
Learn more →WIC Approved Foods
Browse WIC-covered foods by category, from milk and eggs to fruits, vegetables, and formula.
Learn more →Find a WIC Clinic
Search WIC clinic locations by state and city, with addresses and phone numbers.
Learn more →WIC Recertification
When your WIC certification expires, what to bring to your renewal appointment, and how to avoid a gap in benefits.
Learn more →