• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Sunday, May 28, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Minnesotans favor funding to increase statewide access to healthy food

by MSR News Online
March 15, 2017
43
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
(MGN Online)

A majority (72 percent) of Minnesotans would be likely to choose healthier food if more options were available in their communities, according to a poll conducted by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Nearly 63 percent of respondents also think the state of Minnesota should appropriate funding to increase that access.

According to the poll, most Minnesotans support food access policies that will improve health outcomes and boost local economies. Access to healthy food also was considered to influence where many people choose to live, with 43 percent of respondents citing its importance. Healthy food access was important to more people than access to schools or public transportation.

“Minnesotans clearly understand that not everyone in the state has access to healthy and affordable foods, and they are keenly aware of the benefits it brings to individuals, families and communities,” said Janelle Waldock, vice president of community health and health equity at Blue Cross. “They largely agree that the state of Minnesota should take steps to help support that access.”

Only 36 percent of Minnesotans responding to the poll believe that all state residents have access to healthy and affordable foods. Lack of transportation, poverty, irregular work hours and other barriers make it difficult for thousands to find healthy foods, putting them at greater risk for diabetes, heart disease and other negative health issues.

“Today, over 340,000 Minnesotans face distance and income barriers to obtaining healthy, affordable food, and approximately 235,000 Minnesotans live more than 10 miles from a large grocery store or supermarket,” said Waldock. “The issue of low-access areas is not restricted by geography and exists in both rural and urban areas of the state,” Waldock continued.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Women, millennials and parents express the strongest support for the state of Minnesota taking action to increase food access. Among Minnesota millennial respondents, 72 percent believe the state should take steps to increase access to healthy foods, compared to 63 percent of Generation Xers and 53 percent of baby boomers. More than half (54 percent) of all Minnesotans surveyed would support a state budget commitment of $100 million to support healthy food access for all Minnesotans.

In 2016, Blue Cross supported legislation leading to the creation of the Minnesota Good Food Access program. The program is designed to help more Minnesotans access healthy, affordable foods by providing loans, grants and technical assistance to food providers in underserved locations.

Bipartisan legislation to fund the program was introduced this year and is currently making its way through the Minnesota Legislature. “Convenient access to healthy, affordable food is a serious challenge for many Minnesotans, but it’s a challenge that we are willing to take on and, ultimately, overcome,” Waldock said.

The public-opinion online poll was commissioned by the Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and conducted by ORC International’s CARAVAN Geographic Omnibus in December 2016. It consisted of 1,003 adults living in Minnesota. Respondents were 18 years of age and older. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.09 percentage points for the full sample.

 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

This information was provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Documentary film highlights effects of ‘hyper’ gentrification

Next Post

Apply for a Puckett Scholarship-University of Minnesota

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Fare For All: Bulk buying power key to offering affordable, healthy food
Community Profiles

Fare For All: Bulk buying power key to offering affordable, healthy food

Next Post
Apply for a Puckett Scholarship-University of Minnesota

Apply for a Puckett Scholarship-University of Minnesota

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

In history-making selection, Biden picks Gen. Charles ‘CQ’ Brown, Jr. as chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff

In history-making selection, Biden picks Gen. Charles ‘CQ’ Brown, Jr. as chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff

Black-owned farmers market in full swing this spring

Black-owned farmers market in full swing this spring

Honoring Black Americans’ role in the inception of Memorial Day

Honoring Black Americans’ role in the inception of Memorial Day

Saints pitcher Woods Richardson keeps on trying

Saints pitcher Woods Richardson keeps on trying

Black Business Spotlight: West Indies Soul Food

Black Business Spotlight: West Indies Soul Food

For classical music trio The String Queens, it’s all about community

For classical music trio The String Queens, it’s all about community

Minneapolis
◉
81°
Sunny
5:31 am8:48 pm CDT
MonTueWedThuFri
88/66°F
88/66°F
86/66°F
86/68°F
90/66°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Mar 31
March 31 @ 7:30 pm-May 28 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

May 29
10:00 am-4:00 pm Recurring

Preserving Nature Photos by Walter Griffin: REFLECTIONS

May 29
10:30 am-4:00 pm

Memorial Day Community Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...