Washington, D.C. – The National Grocers Association, the leading national trade association representing independent supermarket retailers, released the following statement today regarding USDA’s proposed changes to stocking requirements for SNAP retailers:

“The National Grocers Association (NGA) is guided by the belief that no American should go hungry, healthy food should be accessible, and SNAP plays a crucial role in improving public health.

With these principles in mind, NGA supports the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s efforts to strengthen stocking requirements for SNAP retailers. Supermarkets and other retailers offering local, fresh foods are critical to increasing choice and access to healthy food staples for SNAP participants in communities nationwide.

American consumers deserve access to a wide variety of foods, including perishable and shelf stable, and having access to full service supermarkets and other retailers that offer these items is essential to building strong communities.

To further reinforce the mission of this longstanding public-private partnership, NGA urges Congress and the USDA to strengthen and expand programs such as Double-Up Food Bucks and GusNIP. These successful programs incentivize healthy eating and provide greater access to locally sourced, healthy foods.”

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About NGA 

NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org. Â