Algonac – Investments by retailers and state government aim to provide Michigan residents with more options for purchasing fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishable foods, especially in so-called rural “food deserts.”
One of those residents is Sandy Cutshaw, 65, of Algonac, who recently bought snacks, canned goods and fruits and vegetables at a Dollar General Market in Algonac on Pointe Tremble Road. The new store, part of the discount chain’s efforts to expand its offerings to include fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products, is less than 5 minutes from her home, giving her an alternative to the nearby Kroger, also on Pointe Tremble Road.
“Now we have meat, produce and a bigger store. I haven’t bought the meat here yet, but from what I understand the price is the same as Kroger, so you don’t save as much as you would anywhere else you buy produce or meat,” she said. “I like it. It’s convenient. It’s not as crowded, which makes a difference.”
In addition to opening new stores that carry perishable foods, Dollar General is also converting outlets to offer fresh produce, meat and dairy, such as a store the chain renovated in Kingston Township last year. Until August 2023, the closest store where residents of the Tuscola County township could find those items was 15 miles away. The retailer said it now sells fresh food in 226 of its roughly 700 Michigan stores.
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association is also launching an initiative to combat food deserts in Michigan, with a $3 million grant included in the state’s 2025 budget. Starting Oct. 1, the association will implement a program where retailers can apply for grants to purchase equipment that will allow them to stock healthier foods.
“Large parts of the state, both rural and urban, are underserved or have very limited access to healthy foods, fruits and vegetables and unprocessed foods,” said Jerry Griffin, vice president of the association. “People who live there either have to travel long distances to reach stores that have a large quantity or a large selection of these products … and that assumes they have the ability to drive there.”
Kate Bauer, an associate professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Michigan, says investing in smaller, independently owned grocery stores in rural communities could help close food deserts in the long term, benefiting both the local economy and consumers who like to shop close to home.
“One solution to this, while it does require investment, is to figure out how to invest in the small grocery stores that already exist in communities, because those tend to be locally owned,” she said. “These are people who are really invested in the community, and they’re really trying to include whatever they can get at reasonable prices, but they just don’t have the purchasing power of the big box stores.”
Filling food deserts
Food deserts generally refer to low-income areas where people live far from nutritious and affordable food sources.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets the criteria as follows: In urban areas, at least 500 people, or 33% of the population, live more than one mile from the nearest large grocery store. In rural areas, at least 500 people, or 33% of the population, live more than 10 miles from the nearest large grocery store.
“It’s unfortunate that some of these areas just don’t have big stores. We shouldn’t condemn people in certain areas to only have certain foods and not be able to buy good, healthy fruits and vegetables in large quantities and in a wide variety without having to travel long distances,” Griffin said.
The Midwest Independent Retailers Association represents small, independent, family-owned grocery stores, wholesalers and convenience stores in Michigan and Ohio. The association also has members who are suppliers, wholesalers and distributors involved in the food and beverage supply chain.
“Many of our members are smaller businesses that are located in areas that you might not think of as a grocery store. But in this community, they are a grocery store, but they’re just not very large,” Griffin said. “Maybe some locations need to be retrofitted to even be able to install refrigeration or cooling equipment to be able to bring in and utilize that product and inventory.”
In addition to financing the purchase of this equipment, the association also plans to use the grants to market the program and purchase software to track purchases and sales in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the measure.
Looking for lower prices
While additional fresh food options are welcome in underserved areas, they do not always mean lower prices.
During her recent visit to Dollar General in Algonac, Cutshaw marveled at a $5 container of cream cheese.
“I don’t like some of the prices at Kroger either. We have to deal with that,” she said. “My husband and I are just the two of us… it seems ridiculous what we have to pay for the two of us, because if you want to make something good, you have to buy all these ingredients and it adds up.”
In an email, Dollar General touted its new and renovated stores as a way to “help meet the need for healthier food options in more communities than any other retailer in the U.S. and respond to community requests for new stores by adding fresh produce to the store or offering expanded product lines.”
Pat Mueller, 80, of Algonac shopped at the store because she was looking for a similar shopping experience to Aldi, a discount grocery store about 20 miles from her home.
“I’m not impressed,” Mueller said. “I was going to get green beans and chicken if the price was right.” She bought a package of chicken breasts for $7.95.
On a positive note, she and other customers looking at the shelves said the meat looked fresh and the store had a nice selection of fresh foods, including lettuce, oranges, bananas, meat, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, bread and more.
@_myeshajohnson
