WIC Shopping Experience

Individual and Store Characteristics Associated with Brand Choices in Select Food Category Redemptions among WIC Participants in Virginia

Minority participants were significantly more likely to redeem higher-priced brands of infant F&Vs, but more likely to choose lower-priced brands of bread. Participants shopping in urban stores or mid sized stores (with 5-9 registers) were less likely to choose higher-priced brands compared to rural stores or large stores (with 9+ registers).

The Influence of the WIC Food Package Changes on the Retail Food Environment in New Orleans

Results suggest that WIC changes improved the availability of healthy foods in small stores in New Orleans

Fruit and Vegetable Availability and Selection: Federal Food Package Revisions, 2009

Overall, availability and selection of commonly consumed fresh FV and availability of African-American culturally specific fresh FV improved after implementation of the new policy. Modest improvements in the overall availability of canned low-sodium vegetables and frozen FV were observed.

Positive Influence of the Revised Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Food Packages on Access to Healthy Foods

The 2009 introduction of the revised WIC food packages has significantly improved availability and variety of healthy foods in WIC-authorized and (to a smaller degree) non-WIC convenience and grocery stores. Improved availability and variety of whole-grain products were responsible for most of the increase in the composite score of healthy food supply.

Effects of the Revised Food Packages for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Connecticut

Changes to WIC requirements proved to increase access to healthy foods with little drop out or complaints from WIC approved vendors.

Farmers’ Markets: Costs Compared With Supermarkets, Use Among WIC Clients, and Relationship to Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Related Psychosocial Variables

The farmers market cost was greater. The farmers market users more often ate vegetables as snacks and > 1 vegetable per day.

Food- and Health-Related Correlates of Self-Reported Body Mass Index Among Low-Income Mothers of Young Children

Shopping practices to stretch food dollars, using community food assistance programs, and HFI correlated with heavier maternal BMIs; higher self-rated health corresponded to lower BMIs.

Stocking Characteristics and Perceived Increases in Sales Among Small Food Store Managers/Owners Associated with the Introduction of New Food Products Approved by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

The WIC-approved food products were acquired in multiple ways, although acquisition generally occurred 1-2 times/week. Factors such as customer requests (87 %), refrigerator/freezer availability (65 %) and profitability (71 %) were rated as very important when making stocking decisions. Most managers/owners perceived increases in sales of new WIC-approved foods including those considered most profitable (wholegrain/whole-wheat bread (89 %), lower-fat milk (89 %), white corn/whole wheat tortillas (54 %)), but perceived no changes in sales of processed fruits and vegetables. Supply mechanisms and frequency of supply acquisition were only moderately associated with perceived sales increases.

Small Retailer Perspectives of the 2009 Women, Infants and Children Program Food Package Changes

Store owners experienced implementation challenges, but felt the changes increased the number of customers, sales, and profits.

Food-Shopping Environment Disparities in Texas WIC Vendors: A Pilot Study

Prices were higher in rural areas than in urban areas for 2 key foods, fruits and milk ; non-border vendors had overall better food availability than border vendors; non-border vendors had better accessibility for fruits than border vendors