Washington, D.C. – The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, released the following statement from Stephanie Johnson, NGA’s SVP and head of government affairs, about the recently released Senate Farm Bill text:
“Independent grocers are proud to serve as trusted SNAP partners on Main Street, often as the only full-service food retailer in their communities. The Senate’s Farm Bill recognizes the critical role these retailers play in feeding America and includes several commonsense policies that will strengthen food access while protecting small businesses from unnecessary costs and burdens, including provisions that would permanently prohibit SNAP EBT transaction fees, make online SNAP purchasing permanent, expand nutrition incentives, and strengthen access to healthy food. Independent grocers operate on razor-thin margins, and these reforms will help ensure that stores can continue serving families in rural, urban, and low-income communities without facing additional financial strain.
“However, we’ve heard concerns from our members, particularly those serving rural communities, about the timeline for states to address SNAP payment error rates. Congress should provide states acting in good faith with additional implementation time to ensure a sustainable path forward and avoid unintended consequences for retailers and the families who rely on SNAP. We look forward to working with lawmakers on a bipartisan basis to advance the Farm Bill as the process moves forward.”
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About the National Grocers Association
NGA is the nation’s leading 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 in a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector accounts for 2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and generates more than $557.5 billion in annual economic activity, 1.5 million jobs, $115 billion in wages, and $27 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.
