Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nutrition Incentives topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances expanding Market Bucks to grocery stores and moves program to MDH
Summary
Senate File 18‑58 would move Minnesota’s Market Bucks program into the Department of Health and pilot extending the program from farmers markets to grocery stores year‑round (Fresh Bucks); committee adopted technical amendments and referred the bill to State Government.
Senator Mann presented Senate File 18‑58, which would transfer the Market Bucks program from the Minnesota Humanities Center to the Minnesota Department of Health and authorize a pilot to extend the program from summer farmers markets to year‑round grocery‑store purchases ("Fresh Bucks") to increase access to fresh produce.
Testimony included SNAP recipient Tamara Walter, who said Market Bucks stretches benefit dollars and that year‑round access to fresh produce is important for families managing diabetes and celiac disease. Zachary Page, a regional sustainable‑food systems coordinator and rural co‑op board president, described rural grocery challenges and said Fresh Bucks would increase demand and make produce more available in food‑desert communities.
Senators described the program as a preventive public‑health investment that can reduce health care costs. The committee adopted an A‑2 technical amendment and referred the bill to the Committee on State Government for further action.
