Tulsa grocery store offers coffee, connection

States work with farmers
Douglas Shinkle, with the National Conference of State Legislatures, said several states have offered incentives to get grocery stores back in city neighborhoods and rural towns. They include New York, Louisiana and Illinois.

Nine states have also passed legislation that provides money to help farmers markets install electronic terminals so they can accept debit cards from those receiving food stamps, he said. Those on food stamps often don’t have the cash to buy fresh produce and have to go to stores that accept their cards, he said.

Miriam Manon with The Food Trust, a nonprofit group in Pennsylvania, said that state has put up $30 million over a three-year period and private concerns provided $90 million for grants and loans for grocery stores to develop in underserved areas.

It has also worked with Philadelphia convenience stores to stock and promote fresh foods and to teach children to choose healthier snacks, Manon said. It’s also developed a network of farmers markets that helps farmers and provides healthy food for more than 125,000 people in the Philadelphia area; food stamps are accepted at the farmers markets, she said.

MICHAEL MCNUTT, CAPITOL BUREAU