Minnesota proposes healthy food access bill

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Members of Minnesotans for Healthy Kids Coalition, a statewide coalition of around 25 organizations that work on policies to help address childhood obesity, gathered together in March to purpose a healthy food access bill for the many people who are facing little to no healthy food access in Minnesota.

According to a 2011 project from the Trust for American’s Health and the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, 14 percent of children ages 10 to 17 were obese in Minn.

The coalition talked with several steak holders about what should be included in a bill for healthy food access for Minn. and many wanted the Dept. of agriculture to house the loans, technical assistance and felt the state could house the program with ten million dollars a year, in the form of loans grants or technical assistance.

Technical assistance would give the food handling and business skills and development to those who are passionate about being a part of the program.

Rachel Callanan, chair of Minnesotans for Healthy Kids Coalition and regional vice president of Advocacy the American Heart Association, speaking at the bill proposal for the good food access fund explained that when talking with the various stakeholders, loans and grants were important for non-profits to help with ongoing income for the programs to start be sustainable.

Cheryal Hills, executive director of Region Five Development Commission, explained in a video about the need for for small grocery stores, and how the data researched showed the importance of grocery stores, noticed when grocery stores decreased health disparities increased.

Hills also mentioned food pharmacies, community shared agriculture (CSA’s) and gap lending, explaining that all these organizations and businesses could help local food access within the state.

Healthy food financing initiatives can help many areas throughout the nation that have little to no access to healthy foods, and encourage economic growth.

Studies show when more bodegas or healthy foods are promoted and put in corner stores, more consumers chose healthier items.

All people need access to healthy foods, especially Latinos who may be at higher risks of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity.

To learn more about this change, watch the full video above.

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