30% off

Check out this article about a food stamp pilot program launching in Massachusetts. As the title of this post suggests, food stamp recipients will receive a 30-cent discount on every dollar they spend on fresh produce. The goal of this program is to determine if people will eat healthier food if it is more affordable. My guess is: yes. When Taylor and I received food assistance, we found it frustrating that our food stamp dollars were stretched thin just because we filled our cart with fresh produce instead of Ramen noodles and boxes of mac 'n cheese. The difference in cost between sodium-filled, shelf-stable items and nutrient-rich, freshly grown produce is obvious, and tends to be a disincentive to healthy eating. No wonder there is such a correlation between poverty and obesity in this country.

Of course, people who don't qualify for food assistance would be grateful for such a subsidy, as well. When you think about how much the government subsidizes corn in this country (contributing to the production of shelf-stable food made from corn, corn syrup, etc.), it's no wonder people will reach for the bag of chips instead of the box of strawberries. It's cheaper; you get more for your money because the government enables it to be so. If the government threw their weight behind fresh produce like they have behind corn, imagine the difference that could make in grocery store prices and food choices across America. It would mean parents wouldn't have to choose between a gallon of sugary fruit juice and a bag of fresh apples for their kids. And two 20-somethings in Southwest Ohio wouldn't have to feel guilty about their selection of asparagus and spinach over the cup o' noodles two aisles away.

Hopefully this program does what it is intended to do by increasing access to fresh produce, thus promoting healthy eating among America's most at-risk populations. I hope to see something similar heading towards Ohio soon!