improve access to healthy food in low-income or food desert areas to help prevent Type 2 diabetes.

 

 

The purpose of this bill is to improve access to affordable, nutritious food for families in underprivileged areas in

order to reduce the rising rates of Type 2 diabetes and other diet-related illnesses. It also is to ensure more food

resources and food options to those who would like a healthier option. It will help open more stores and markets, bring

healthier foods, help local farmers, and lower diet-related illness and overall health (especially type 2 diabetes and

obesity).

 

 

This bill is important because diabetes is a rising disease, especially in the States. Type 2 diabetes is a huge problem

currently in Minnesota. Diet-related illnesses are making tons of people very sick, which causes a major public health

crisis. Type 2 diabetes was mostly known as a disease formed in adulthood, but now it is being seen more often in kids.

30% of kids in Minnesota have type 2 diabetes from the people who currently have diabetes in MN (around 410,000 kids).

This also costs the state a lot of money in healthcare. People living in food deserts get preventable diseases more

often than others. By helping stores and markets grow and become more accessible with healthy food, this can help fix

the main cause of these health issues. This will save the state money, and make many communities healthier, and have

more food availability. $6.0 billion annually is drained alone in medical expenses, over ⅓ or the adult population is on

the way to type 2.

 

 

Underserved area - a community that has a high area of diet-related illnesses and poor access to affordable, nutritious

food.

Grant - a grant is an amount of money given to a person or organization that, under the right circumstances, does not

need to be paid back.

Produce subsidy - this is government funding/money/financial aid given to farmers or agricultural businesses to help

with food production and supply.

 

 

For this bill, the request is $1,000,000 in state funds. This would be split by two programs one being a retail grant

program (run by the Department of Agriculture), as well as a produce subsidy (this would be managed by the Mobile Market

Subsidy Program). This state money would act as a powerful springboard for local projects. In Minnesota, when a small

grocer receives a state grant, they become more competitive when applying for the federal USDA Healthy Food Financing

Initiative (HFFI). This program gives loans up to $5,000,000. This would be able to create new buildings for more

stores. The state funding would cover costs such as equipment needed in the stores. These investments will allow new

stores to stock fresh produce and perishable goods. $750,000 would be for the Retail Grant program, and they encourage

and help grocery stores form relationships with food distributors and Minnesota farms. This gives a consistent supply of

high quality produce, as well as fresh food, and it cuts down on transportation costs (this makes prices more

affordable). $250,000 from the subsidy program would help with the issue of being able to afford these foods. It also

reimburses non-profit organizations for purchasing locally sourced fruits and vegetables (fresh). This directly lowers

the prices for people in underserved areas and makes healthier options an easier option.

 

 

This bill is focused on making sure money is spent correctly. Businesses and organizations that don't meet the standards

for providing affordable nutritious food written in the grant application could be reviewed and lose the chance for

future state funding.

The Minnesota Department of Health checks the performances and finances of grant winners each year to make sure the

money is used properly. If a recipient uses the money incorrectly then they must pay the exact amount of the grant back.

 

 

This bill should take action on July 1st of 2026. This date gives relevant state departments over six months to create

and launch the grant and subsidy programs after being approved.