The National Grocers Association continues to work with USDA to allow NGA’s retail members better access to government food programs.
The latest example had Chris Jones, NGA’s vice president of government relations and counsel testify March 21 in a listening session on Research, Education, and Economics programs at USDA.
The farm bill, which passed late last year, added incentives for healthier eating, such as the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI), a program that matches produce purchases, effectively cutting prices in half for consumers using the program.
Jones spoke on the importance of allow consumers to access FINI benefits at retail, not just at farmers markets, and the establishment of a Training and Technical Assistance Center for retailers to better implement FINI.
Previously, consumes could only use FINI at farmers markets, but the 2018 farm bill changed that. Additionally, there are signs that farmers markets are losing some popularity.
As part of his testimony, Jones said:
“Thanks to [National Institute of Food and Agriculture]’s successful FINI program implementation since it was first authorized in 2014, many of our members who were chosen as project partners are very happy with the results. By leveraging FINI dollars to offer their SNAP customers incentives for the purchase of fruits and vegetables, independent grocers are selling more healthy produce and their customers are making healthier shopping decisions.”
“In grocery stores, these programs have been reported to bring in new clients previously not served, increase the inventory turnover of highly perishable fruits and vegetables and help the store procure more locally grown foods.”
Jones’ full testimony can be read here.
