SHOPP Act Expands Food Incentive Program: Frozen Produce and Legumes Now Count for Nutrition Benefits

The Supporting all Healthy Options when Purchasing Produce Act of 2025, or the SHOPP Act, is making some practical updates to the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP). This program is the one that gives people using federal food assistance benefits extra incentives—like matching funds—when they buy fresh fruits and vegetables. The core change here is expanding what counts as eligible healthy food.

Year-Round Health: Frozen Food is Now Fair Game

One of the biggest hurdles for people trying to eat healthy using incentives is access, especially outside of growing season or in areas without great fresh produce options. The SHOPP Act addresses this head-on by allowing states to offer these nutrition incentives for fresh frozen fruits or vegetables. This is a huge win for practicality. For someone managing a tight budget and a busy schedule, buying a bag of frozen spinach or berries means they can stock up when prices are good, reduce food waste, and still get those crucial vitamins year-round, regardless of local weather or supply chain issues. This provision (SEC. 2) directly increases the year-round availability of affordable, healthy options.

Legumes Get Their Policy Due

Another smart update in this bill is the expansion of the definition of “produce” within the incentive program. Previously, the focus was strictly on fruits and vegetables. Now, the definition is being broadened to explicitly include legumes. This means when states offer incentives for "fruits and vegetables," they must now include legumes—think dried beans, lentils, and peas—in the eligible items list. Legumes are nutrition powerhouses, cheap, and shelf-stable, making them an excellent source of protein and fiber for families. For a parent trying to stretch their food budget, this change means their incentive dollars now go further toward buying ingredients for nutritious, filling meals.

What This Means for Your Grocery Run

Essentially, the SHOPP Act makes the GusNIP program more flexible and relevant to modern life. If you rely on these benefits, you’re getting more options that fit into a busy, budget-conscious lifestyle. It acknowledges that “fresh” isn’t always the most realistic option and that frozen produce—which is often picked at peak ripeness—is just as nutritionally valuable. Furthermore, recognizing legumes as a core part of the produce incentive structure acknowledges the reality of healthy, affordable cooking. The only potential snag might be the administrative side, as states will need to update their systems to incorporate frozen goods and legumes, but the overall impact is a clear expansion of access to healthy food for those who need it most.