With that in mind, said Butts, anything that makes it easier to get markets into a neighborhood sounded good to her. “I think the proposal is great if you want to fairly put a supermarket that’s going to give us straight-from-the-farm, fresh-picked food like you would do in any other neighborhood,” said Butts upon hearing of the Pennsylvania program. “Just because we’re low-income, that doesn’t mean we don’t have the same needs. We do like vegetables around here.”
It’s a sentiment that F&D’s Sarf agrees with. “The best area for a supermarket operator would be in … the poor areas,” said Sarf, citing a demand for economical shopping and supermarkets’ proficiency in administering public benefits programs like food stamps and the Women, Infants and Children program. “But they don’t have the ability to pay the rents.”
There's an opportunity to attend another "listening session" of the New York State Council on Food Policy next month in Harlem.
The Council will hold a Listening Session on May 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street. The Listening Sessions serve to gain perspective from community members on several food policy issue areas and to seek opportunities to maximize collaboration among stakeholders. They are open to the public, with an open microphone format. Anyone who wishes to participate will have five minutes to present their opinions and must also provide their comments in written format. Comments should focus on the key issue areas identified by the Council, including:
1) Maximizing participation in food and nutrition assistance programs;
2) Strengthening the connection between local food products and consumers;
3) Supporting efficient and profitable agricultural food production and food retail infrastructure; and
4) Increasing consumer awareness and knowledge about healthy eating and improve access to safe and nutritious foods.
RSVP to Mary Ann Stockman at (518) 485-7728 or maryann.stockman@agmkt.state.ny.us
