Ensure Passage of the Farm Bill in 2026
AFFI supports federal nutrition policy that reflects how Americans access and consume food. Incorporating the Supporting all Healthy Options when Purchasing Produce (SHOPP) Act provisions into the farm bill represents meaningful progress—but those gains depend on final passage.
Congress must act now to pass a farm bill that includes the SHOPP Act, delivering necessary improvements to federal nutrition programs.
Background
The SHOPP Act is designed to modernize federal nutrition incentive programs by expanding access to all forms of fruits and vegetables, including frozen, fresh, canned, and dried options. Today, many federal nutrition incentives disproportionately focus on fresh produce, despite the fact that frozen and other shelf-stable options play a critical role in delivering affordable, nutritious food year-round.
The Solution
The SHOPP Act provisions included in both the House-passed farm bill (H.R. 7567) and Senate legislative language expand federal nutrition incentive programs to support all forms of fruits and vegetables, ensuring equal consideration for frozen and fresh produce. This approach:
- Promotes year-round access to nutritious foods,
- Reduces food waste by supporting longer shelf-life products,
- Aligns federal programs with dietary guidance recognizing the value of frozen fruits and vegetables, and
- Reflects how food is produced, distributed, and consumed nationwide.
Including these provisions in the farm bill will strengthen nutrition programs and improve their real-world effectiveness.