Senator David Carlucci & Senate Majority Combat Food Deserts Across New York State

(Albany, NY) - Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) along with the Senate Democratic Majority passed legislation (S.584) to enact the Food Retail Establishment Subsidization for Healthy communities (FRESH) Act. This legislation will provide financial assistance to businesses, municipalities, not-for-profits or local development corporations to attract and retain food retail establishments in underserved areas. Currently, 25-30 million Americans live in food deserts, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

“Every New Yorker needs access to fresh produce and healthy food options, regardless of income or zip code,” said Senator David Carlucci. “Unfortunately, too many live in rural or urban ‘food deserts.’  This legislation will incentivize supermarkets to come to these areas, which will improve access to food, while also creating jobs.” 

The FRESH Act passed by Carlucci along with the Senate Majority will: 

• Enact the food retail establishment subsidization for healthy communities (FRESH Communities) act.
• Authorize Empire State Development to provide loans, loan guarantees, interest subsidies and grants to businesses, municipalities, not-for-profit corporations or local development corporations to attract, maintain, or permit the expansion of food retail establishments in underserved areas.
• Define “underserved areas” to be areas with low-moderate income census tracts, areas below average supermarket density, have supermarkets with a customer base more than fifty percent considered to be low-income and other areas demonstrated to have significant access limitations due to travel distance. 
• Define “food retail establishments” as supermarkets and other grocery retailers that operate on a self-service basis and sell a minimum percentage of produce, meat, poultry, seafood, baked goods and/or dairy products, participate in the pride of New York Programs, accept SNAP and WIC benefits, do not charge membership fees and hire local residents from within a 20-mile radius.