The National Grocers Association hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) April 13 for a NGA congressional store tour at SpartanNash’s D&W Fresh Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
This opportunity was part of the NGA’s congressional store tour program connecting members of Congress to independent community grocers in their districts. The visit provided an overview of store operations and a firsthand look into how federal policies impact independent grocers.
“As conversations continue in Congress about the 2023 Farm Bill and the key nutrition programs included in the legislative package, it’s critical for influential leaders like Sen. Stabenow to hear from independent grocers about how federal policies are impacting their business operations, their store associates, and the communities they serve,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA VP of government relations.
“Sen. Stabenow has been a champion for independent grocers in the halls of Congress and we look forward to working with her in the coming months to ensure independent grocers continue to be a driving economic force in Michigan and throughout the U.S.”
Stabenow, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is a key leader during ongoing negotiations on the 2023 Farm Bill. In February, NGA sent a letter outlining its 2023 Farm Bill priorities including SNAP, swipe fees and DIR fees to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and U.S. House.
“It was great to have Sen. Stabenow in store and we appreciate her perspective on vital issues that affect not just food policy but other areas of our stores including pharmacy,” said Tom Swanson, SpartanNash’s EVP of corporate retail.
“As a food solutions company that delivers the ingredients for a better life, the team at SpartanNash is passionate about providing healthy food to Americans at an affordable price. We were pleased to discuss continued support for programs we’ve implemented like Double Up Food Bucks with a goal to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to store guests receiving food assistance while increasing local produce sales to support local farmers.”
NGA’s congressional store tours are critical in advocating for the independent grocery industry on Capitol Hill. NGA recently released an instructional video for NGA members about how they can make their congressional store tour impactful.
