Florida Home lawmakers file bipartisan invoice encouraging building of grocery shops in meals deserts

By FloridaDailyHerald On Jan 4, 2025

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Reps. Michelle Rayner, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, and Fiona McFarland, a Republican from Sarasota, co-sponsored a invoice Friday to sort out meals insecurity via land improvement.

HB 89 would enable native governments to authorize “small-footprint grocery shops” in meals insecure areas, as designated by the state Workplace of Financial and Demographic Analysis.

The invoice defines meals insecure areas as locations with a poverty price of a minimum of 20% or the place the median household revenue is at or beneath 80% of the state’s median household revenue, which is $71,711, in keeping with the U.S. Census Bureau. Moreover, in city communities, a minimum of 33% of the inhabitants should dwell greater than a mile away from a grocery store for the regulation to use. The gap will increase to 10 miles for rural communities.

“The Legislature finds that entry to reasonably priced, wholesome meals choices, particularly recent fruit and veggies, is restricted due, partially, to the absence of supermarkets positioned inside a handy touring distance,” the invoice states. “This restriction constitutes a risk to the well being, security, and welfare of the residents of this state.”

Grocery shops constructed within the meals insecure communities should earn a minimum of 30% of their income from promoting nutritious meals, resembling fruits, greens, entire grains, and low-fat dairy merchandise.

In response to the U.S. Division of Agriculture, 12% of households in Florida handled meals insecurity between 2021 and 2023, which means they couldn’t afford sufficient meals for your complete household.

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Florida food deserts food desert bill