Bianca Williams became frustrated with her search for a store that would accept federal food benefits for low-income mothers and their children, as well as provide high-quality produce.

In November, the resident of Milwaukee, who has seven children, two of whom are currently breastfeeding, made the decision to rely on frozen Thanksgiving leftovers and food from loved ones.

Over 6 million individuals in the United States receive assistance from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Children, also referred to as WIC. However, obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables, infant formula, and other approved WIC products can be challenging.

In 2016, Williams’ nearest Walmart store closed down. Since then, she has found dealing with WIC to be too burdensome.

Williams, who earns just slightly more than the limit for food stamp eligibility, admitted, “Honestly, I hardly ever use it.” She explained that the difficulty of accessing grocery stores and finding vendors that accept WIC make it a challenge to utilize the benefits.

Unlike food stamps, WIC-approved items can’t be bought online, though a few states are working on pilot programs to make it a reality. Complex requirements make it tough for smaller stores — and sometimes big-name grocers — to participate in WIC. Some states are trying to expand access after vendors left over the last five years due to changes in the program or closing down during the pandemic.

According to Ann Sanders, the director of public benefits policy and programs at the Pennsylvania nonprofit Just Harvest, the program is designed for larger grocery stores to participate in. However, there has been a decrease of 353 vendors in the state since 2019.

While both fall under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC and SNAP have distinct differences. While SNAP, also known as food stamps, allows participants to purchase any grocery item regardless of nutritional value, WIC follows federal guidelines and only allows specific products and quantities to be purchased from approved vendors. Some commonly approved brands include Cheerios, Juicy Juice, and Similac.

The National Grocers Association, which advocates for independent stores, states that numerous local businesses join WIC in order to assist community members in need, but this assistance may have its own expenses.

According to Stephanie Johnson, the vice president of government relations for the association, participating in WIC may not necessarily be a lucrative venture for some, with some even losing money.

The WIC program has been gradually shifting from using paper vouchers to electronic benefits, also known as eWIC. While this change has made shopping easier for participants, it has required stores to invest in upgrading their cash registers. This has led to some stores in Georgia choosing to opt out of the program.

According to Michael Gay, the proprietor of Food Fresh, the sole grocery store in rural Claxton, Georgia, the implementation of eWIC is a tedious process at the checkout counter as it requires identifying eligible items. Despite this and other challenges, he continues to participate in the program because he believes in providing it for customers and ensuring their babies have access to food.

Some large companies may not be part of WIC. Aldi does not participate because it only sells its own formula. Trader Joe’s stated that most of its products do not qualify for WIC due to brand or size requirements.

According to Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo, approximately half of their stores accept WIC due to variations in store size and layout. Smaller stores may not have adequate shelf space to meet the minimum stocking requirements.

Ashley Yancey was searching for a formula for her daughter at a Target store that was 30 miles away from her residence in Douglasville, Georgia. She was surprised to find out that the store did not accept WIC. This is a common issue for her as the closest WIC vendor frequently does not have the product available.

She expressed feeling embarrassed when she tried to use WIC at the Target store. She questioned if the store was too high-class to accept WIC and if she was being judged for being poor.

Yancey does not own a vehicle and enjoys the flexibility of purchasing most of her groceries online, utilizing her SNAP benefits. The USDA began testing online SNAP transactions in 2019 and implemented it further during the pandemic.

She expressed that it was difficult for her to not be able to obtain her milk in that manner. She must rely on borrowing someone else’s car to search for the milk, only to come up empty-handed. It is inconvenient that WIC is not accepted online.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently evaluating feedback on a potential regulation that aims to eliminate obstacles to virtual shopping, such as the need for a cashier to be physically present during WIC transactions. The agency has also collaborated with the non-profit organization Center for Nutrition to test online shopping in seven states and with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Large retailers Walmart and Hy-Vee are involved in certain locations.

Ali Hard, the policy director for the National WIC Association, which is an advocacy group and often collaborates with the federal government, stated that states are interested in the idea of allowing online shopping for WIC participants. Retailers also seem to be supportive of this idea. Hard believes that implementing online shopping would greatly benefit WIC participants and address a significant equity issue.

Officials report that the decline in the number of WIC vendors has had a significant effect on rural areas in certain states. For instance, Louisiana has experienced a loss of 68 WIC vendors since 2019 and is currently developing a strategy to attract new vendors.

“We aim to prioritize rural regions and identify potential locations where we can engage in discussions,” stated Jennifer Nicklas, Director of the Bureau of Nutrition Services. “In some cases, this process occurs naturally when we already have a established relationship with a store… This will greatly assist us in pinpointing the exact locations where we want to hold these conversations.”

Hailey McAlary from the state Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition stated that in New Hampshire, stores in smaller, rural areas were unable to meet the minimum inventory requirements for the program. As a result, the state has exempted these stores from having to carry items such as juice concentrates and pureed meat for infants.

Rebecca White, the public and government affairs associate for Hanover Co-Op Food stores in New Hampshire and Vermont, stated that participation and vendor certification are closely linked. She explained that when it comes to food shopping, convenience is key. People tend to purchase food items that fit into their schedule and lifestyle.

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