Above-50-Percent Vendors How A-50 vendors help overcome barriers to WIC participation and benefit redemption

What is an A-50 Vendor? An A-50 vendor is a WIC authorized vendor that makes more than 50% of their sales of SNAP eligible food items to WIC A-50 is a federally required peer group that limits reimbursements to A-50 vendors for specific food items to the statewide average of reimbursements to all other vendors for that food item

Barriers to WIC Participation and Redemption The Interim Report includes a table “Summary of Literature Findings on Barriers to WIC Participation and Redemptions” that identifies five barriers.

Embarrassment, negative interactions in stores A-50 vendors exist to serve WIC participants – everything we do in our stores is designed to provide WIC participants with a helpful, stigma free experience No vendor has a greater incentive to provide the best possible shopping experience designed specifically for the WIC participant

Gaps in Participant Knowledge An A-50 vendor must provide a superior shopping experience to stay in business – our stores sell fresh fruits and vegetables in pre- packaged units priced in $.25 increments to make is easy for WIC participants to utilize their Cash Value Vouchers Our store staffers are happy to offer suggestions for preparing WIC foods

Limited Selection of WIC Foods As an A-50 vendor, our stores have to carry a varied selection of WIC eligible foods, including the most popular cereal brands We always stock WIC foods in allowable forms – that is what our customers want and deserve

Vendors Maintaining Adequate Supplies of WIC Foods As an A-50 vendor, if we do not provide a wide selection and maintain WIC products in stock we are out of business State Agencies can assist in this by providing manufactures and wholesalers as much notice as possible when introducing new food items to the WIC food package – there is currently a challenge to obtain whole wheat pasta products.

Maintaining Food Freshness A-50 vendors typically sell a much higher volume of WIC food items for their size when compared to other vendors – this almost guarantees a high turnover of inventory, ensuring product freshness Minimum stocking requirements should not include low volume/unpopular items or varieties

A-50 Vendors Value to WIC Despite the advantages A-50 vendors offer WIC, federal regulations allow state agencies to refuse to authorize A-50 stores This refusal to authorize A-50 stores was based on cost containment issues that were addressed through the limitation of reimbursements to the statewide average – the problem has been solved!

Maximizing the Value of A-50 Stores Minimum Stocking requirements – A-50 vendors should be required to stock a larger variety of fresh fruits and vegetables Vendor authorization criteria – prohibit the stocking of alcohol and tobacco products by A- 50 vendors

Recommendation 1 USDA should revisit the regulation allowing State Agencies to refuse to authorize A-50 vendors

Recommendation 2 Future WIC vendor studies should always include State Agencies that authorize A-50 vendors