Minn. mandates healthy changes in its WIC law

Expect to see more fresh produce in small corner stores: A law that goes into effect today requires some convenience stores to stock at least five varieties of fresh produce -- seven if they're in the metro area.

The law targets the 525 stores statewide that are approved to accept food coupons from families relying on the Women, Infants and Children's (WIC) program. Too many of those stores didn't have fresh, healthy food available, according to JoAnne Bergenkamp, a local foods expert at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a Minneapolis think tank that consulted on the law.

"In many low-income neighborhoods there's a real dearth of neighborhood grocery stores. And most corner stores have a very limited selection of fresh fruits and vegetables," Bergenkamp said. "Some of them have virtually none."

The program formerly covered only cereals, fruit juice, peanut butter, tuna, carrots, milk, cheese, eggs, dried peas and infant cereal. Now, in addition to the fresh-produce benefit, it also will cover fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables; whole grain breads, tortillas, brown rice and oatmeal; jarred baby foods and soy beverages; tofu; and organic fruits and vegetables.

About 141,000 women, infants and children in Minnesota rely on the program. Each adult and child in the program get coupons every month worth $6 to $10 to spend on fresh produce. The law doesn't set individual amounts for each fruit or vegetable, except to say that each store should have at least 24 pounds of fresh produce on hand; 30 pounds if it's in the metro area. The law does not set prices.

"The new WIC food choices will improve the health of Minnesota mothers and children and reduce a child's risk of chronic disease by supporting healthy eating early in life," Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota's Commissioner of Health, said in a statement.

One in eight Minnesota children between the ages of 2 and 4 were classified as obese last year, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. That's up from about one in nine a decade ago.

Many gas stations do not honor WIC coupons and are exempt from the program.