Frozen and Canned Produce Use and WIC Cash-Value Benefit Redemption in a Tribal Organization

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides monthly cash-value benefits (CVBs) for fruits and vegetables. In addition to fresh produce, WIC agencies may allow households to purchase frozen and canned produce using CVBs. The use of these options may support benefit redemption for households who face inequitable barriers to accessing fresh produce, such as households living on tribal lands. This study examined (1) associations between frozen/canned food CVB purchases and overall CVB redemption and (2) predictors of frozen/canned food purchasing within a Tribal Organization using administrative data collected between November 2024 and April 2025 and a participant survey. Administrative data analyses included 4787 Inter Tribal Council of Arizona WIC-participating households; survey analyses included 1165 respondents. Mixed-effects models showed that households purchasing frozen and canned foods using CVBs, instead of only fresh, redeemed more of their CVBs. Further, higher frozen/canned purchasing predicted higher redemption rates. Households with multiple WIC participants were more likely to purchase frozen and canned foods using CVBs than single-participant households. The most commonly reported reason for purchasing frozen/canned foods in surveys was longer shelf life. Findings indicate that allowing and promoting frozen and canned food options may improve CVB utilization for American Indian families.