The California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) supports Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shoppers in purchasing fruits and vegetables by providing a dollar-for-dollar match to SNAP dollars spent on produce. Nutrition Policy Institute researchers conducted a mixed-methods study utilizing surveys, interviews, and observation to explore associations between CNIP participation and produce purchase, consumption, and waste. In-person surveys were administered to a convenience sample of 50 farmers' market shoppers using CNIP in Oakland, CA, and semi-structured follow-up interviews were conducted via Zoom with a sub-sample of 36 of those shoppers during March-April 2025. Participants reported high awareness of food waste as well as negative attitudes towards it. They also shared strategies for minimizing food waste. Participants highly valued CNIP for increasing their access to fresh, high-quality and healthy foods, and for improving their ability to try unfamiliar items which might otherwise be unaffordable. Participants utilized most of the foods they purchased and reported minimal levels of food waste. In the few instances when waste did happen, participants cited challenges including limited storage space, short freshness windows, and unfamiliarity with some items. These findings suggest that CNIP supports increased access to produce and that the produce purchased is well utilized, rather than wasted. The research brief was published by Nutrition Policy Institute researchers Molly Shea, Sridharshi Hewawitharana, Samantha Sam-Chen, Ron Strochlic, and Wendi Gosliner. This work was supported by The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program project award no. 2022-70415-38572, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA or the California Department of Food and Agriculture.