Across the country, independent grocers are stepping up to do what they have always done best – care for their communities. As public health challenges grow and access to nutritious food becomes more difficult for many Americans, community grocers are saying loud and clear that they want to be part of the solution.
These locally owned businesses are uniquely positioned to help tackle food insecurity and promote better health outcomes – not through sweeping mandates but through trusted, personal relationships with their customers and tailored responses to local needs.
Independent community grocers represented by the National Grocers Association (NGA) believe in a healthier, more equitable United States, one where every person, regardless of income, zip code or background has access to affordable, nutritious food.
These grocers are more than just businesses – they are neighbors, employers and advocates. They understand the needs of the communities they serve, and they are already taking action to fill the gaps left by larger, less nimble retail chains.
With this mission in mind, NGA is guided by a set of core values that reflect the shared commitment of independent grocers nationwide:
- No American should go hungry.
- Healthy food should be accessible to all.
- The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lifts people out of food insecurity, strengthens local economies and improves public health.
- Federal policy should support Main Street, not Wall Street.
Independent grocers are calling on policymakers to support smart, practical policies that improve health outcomes and strengthen communities. Among these are common-sense reforms that would expand access to healthy food and better align nutrition programs with the real-world needs of both consumers and retailers. These include:
- Expanding access to nutrition prescriptions and produce incentives for fruits, vegetables and dairy.
- Increasing the percentage of funding allocated to fresh produce purchases.
- Ensuring program consistency by allowing only one coordinating institution or organization per state.
- Prohibiting the advertising of unhealthy foods as “EBT eligible,” which misleads consumers.
- Safeguarding flexibility for SNAP participants to meet their nutritional needs with dignity and choice.
- Expanding Healthy Benefit Cards within Medicare and Medicaid programs.
- Making sure SNAP benefits are sufficient and efficient, supporting not only nutrition but also the more than 200,000 local jobs SNAP sustains.
- Reducing waste, fraud and abuse by modernizing EBT systems and eliminating bad actors.
- Bringing SNAP education into retail settings, so shoppers can learn healthy habits where they shop.
Grocers are already going above and beyond to help build healthier communities, often at their own expense. From stocking fresh produce in food deserts to partnering with local health initiatives, they are proving daily that independent retailers are vital allies in public health. But they cannot do it alone. They need policies that recognize their value and empower them to do even more.
The ideas outlined here are not partisan or political – they’re practical. These are community-first solutions that can create real, lasting change. The road to a healthier America runs straight through our neighborhood grocery stores.
[RELATED: NGA Leads Industry Pushback Against Proposed SNAP Cuts]