One SNAP-Step At A Time

From reading Tom Karst's post in the Fresh Talk Blog from February 26 entitled "Food Stamp Fraud: $800,000 Here $700,000 There Adding Up", and most recently yesterday's "Food Stamp Reform Would Have Huge Impact On Millions", it's apparent from Tom's initial blog that the federal program most needed towards helping to feed low-income families remains rife with abuse in those economically-depressed areas.

But sadly, 'tough new measures' by the USDA to ensure the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), while well-meaning, need more than just threats of suspending redemptions to have a lasting effect. However, if that means a further expansion of the federal government to monitor and police these activities--pretty much a given in this administration--I will stand in front of that advancing tank, Tiananmen-style, and say, "talk to the hand".

What seems to be a far better and positive-minded alternative, and at the same time beneficial for the fruit & vegetable industry, is something like what Jeff Maurer is doing up in Madison, WI.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvo7pNoO3nM

I was turned on to the Freshmobile by my erstwhile daughter, who is on the verge of completing her undergraduate studies in Dietetics at the University of Wisconsin. During a field course, she visited the mobile produce stand in the shape of a retrofitted semitrailer--a heckuva concept when you think about it--when the Freshmobile was temporarily stationed at the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County. And what struck her as an interesting tie-in was the vision of parents doing some quick-like produce shopping when picking up their children at the end of the day. This, of course, is the beauty part of it all: bringing the point-of-sale right to folks that need it the most.

And this would also dovetail quite nicely with Mr. Karst's idea to promote incentivizing SNAP purchases of fresh fruits & vegetables, whether it it be in 'bonus points', 2-for-1's, whatever. Understandably, to some it's a slippery slope--beneficiaries of the SNAP program shouldn't have to be cajoled, carrot-on-the-stick style, to do what's right nutritionally. I have to admit that as a fiscal conservative I have my reservations as well, from an ethical standpoint. But that's trumped by the potential of moving additional tons of produce to a previously untapped market, with the help of the government.

Imagine that, the administration partnering with business. I better start looking for wings on pigs or behind me for monkeys...

Later,

Jay