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SOUTH NEWFANE â Tasked with coming up with a policy proposal for a graduate school class, Juliette Carr originally thought her idea might be too simple. She wanted the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants and Children benefits to be redeemable at farmers markets in Vermont just like those associated with Electronic Benefit Transfer cards.
âThatâs problematic because WIC is much more broadly available,â she said.
Carr wrote a policy brief with the goal of improving health equity, access to healthy food and health disparities. She also looked at the economic perspective â federal funds from the WIC benefits would go to small family farms largely owned by women or Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) community members who are working on small margins. She pointed out rural areas tend to have a lot more farmers markets, which are closer than stores selling food.