It’s simple—our families need access to healthy foods in order to be healthy.

 

Right now, more than 2 million people in North Carolina don't have access to healthy foods and our state ranks amongst the highest in the nation for household food-insecurity.

 

Last year, the North Carolina General Assembly took a big step in the right direction and appropriated $250,000 to start the Healthy Corner Store Initiative (HCSI). This program can help to reduce the number of North Carolinians experiencing food insecurity by getting healthy foods to already existing corner stores! Fully funding the HCSI is the right call.

 

 

 

Your voice is important! State lawmakers depend on hearing from constituents to know what our priorities are—and they need to know that access to healthy food is important to the voters in their district.

 

The HCSI provides funding to corner stores and small retailers to make them better able to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthier foods—making them more readily available to families in North Carolina who don’t live near a large grocery store. Accessing healthy food is particularly challenging for those living in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and rural areas.

 

Healthier eating is associated with better health outcomes for children and families. Unfortunately, one in three children are at risk for a range of preventable nutrition-related health problems that previously weren't seen until adulthood, such as high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Health problems related to food and nutrition cost North Carolinians $54 billion each year.

 

 

The HCSI needs to be fully funded in order to improve access to healthy foods for our most vulnerable North Carolina families. This program helps store owners in food deserts offer fresh produce, low-fat dairy, lean meats, and other healthy foods that are important for healthy eating. The HCSI helps increase the availability of these foods in communities with limited access, so that people who do want to purchase healthier foods can do so, by providing marketing and technical assistance to stock and sell fresh, healthy foods.

 

Because many of these foods can be locally sourced—the HCSI can also create new markets for farmers and fisherman. It’s a win-win-win for our families, small business owners, and our state!