SNAP should take note of what ‘most people’ think
As the reasonable people that we are, we like to think that “most people” agree with us.
In other words, those who don’t see it my way are out of the loop. They are outliers to the obvious realm of common sense. How can you not see it my way? Of course you agree!
“Most” media people probably assumed Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump in the presidential election. Whoops!
A new study on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) provides us with another set of opinions from “most people.”
In this case, “most people” appear to have the same convictions I have about the food stamp program.
The study was released by the nonpartisan group Voice of the People and supports all the things the industry should want to see in the food stamp program.
Industry associations shouldn’t be afraid to advocate for restricting the purchases of candy and soda with SNAP benefits. Most people — 75% of us, in fact — agree with that position. And most people are usually right.
Setting up the study, the group notes that the debate on whether SNAP benefits should be permitted for foods that are low in nutritional values/unhealthy is generating controversy.
The report notes that some states have requested permission to restrict SNAP benefits for non-nutritious food, and legislation has been advocated to impose the same restrictions on SNAP as the Women, Infants and Children program.
Other programs have been devised to create incentives for fruit and vegetable purchases.
The online survey of 7,128 registered voters found these key points:
- 76% (Republicans 85%, Democrats 68%) favored disallowing the purchase of candy with SNAP benefits;
- 73% (Republicans 82%, Democrats 67%) said they would favor not allowing sweetened soda purchases with SNAP benefits;
- 59% favored disallowing cookies, cakes and doughnuts;
- most people, on the other hand, favor allowing chips, snack crackers and ice cream; and
- 88% (81% Republicans, 93% Democrats) favor giving discounts on fruit and vegetables bought with SNAP benefits.
The study should be used as ammunition to support increased use of incentives for fruit and vegetables purchases in the SNAP program.
Truly, everyone agrees that fruit and vegetable consumption must be increased, and the SNAP program is a good place to show that commitment.
What’s more, industry associations shouldn’t be afraid to advocate for restricting the purchases of candy and soda with SNAP benefits. Most people — 75% of us, in fact — agree with that position. And most people are usually right.
———
“Seasoned citizens” — the kind of folks who are grandparents (check), drive a Buick (no) and pay attention to the stock market (yeah) — are on the rise.
The latest figures from the Census Bureau, which I gleaned with the benefits of my 2.0 reading glasses, show a big-time graying of America from 2010 to 2015.
An aging population may speed the appeal of online grocery shopping, and it may influence the way produce is marketed and packaged.
For example, the census data shows the number of Americans aged over 65 increased from 40.4 million to 47.8 million in 2015, a gain of 18% in just five years. As a share of the total population, the over-65 crowd accounted for 14.8% of the total population of 321.4 million, up from 13% in 2010.
But we haven’t seen anything yet. By 2060, the Census Bureau said that the population of 65 years and older will total an unbelievable 98.1 million people, or about 24% of the total projected population of 417 million people.
An aging population may speed the appeal of online grocery shopping, and it may influence the way produce is marketed and packaged.
The industry needs more research on how an aging population will change demand for local food, superfoods, biotech produce, organic produce and consumption of fresh versus processed fruits and vegetables.
Produce safety could become more of a concern for an aging population; will that keep consumers away from fresh options?
Baby Boomer, Generation X or Millennial — we are all on the same road to life past 65. The industry better figure out how to maximize produce purchases in the trunk of the Buick for this increasingly big wedge of the U.S. population.
Tom Karst is The Packer’s national editor. E-mail him at tkarst@farmjournal.com.
What's your take? Leave a comment and tell us your opinion.
An aging population may speed the appeal of online grocery shopping, and it may influence the way produce is marketed and packaged.
