SNAP retailers have just a few days left to submit comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) stocking requirements. Comments are due by Monday, November 24, and NACS is urging all of its members who participate in SNAP to weigh in before the deadline.
The proposed rule would significantly change the way stores qualify to participate in SNAP, with major implications for small-format retailers, like convenience stores, and the communities they serve.
If finalized, it would put the 2014 Farm Bill’s higher breadth-of-stock requirements for SNAP retailers into effect, moving from three to seven distinct varieties of food in each of the four staple food categories (protein, grains, vegetables/fruits and dairy). The agency’s proposed rule creates an updated framework for what counts as a “distinct variety” and which items are considered “accessory foods.”
NACS has long advocated for a “variety” rulemaking that increases nutritious options for SNAP customers, while being workable and common sense for small-format retailers to implement. However, there are some aspects of the proposed rule that may be challenging for small-format SNAP retailers to implement in its current form.
Convenience stores play a critical role in providing reliable food access, particularly in rural and underserved urban areas where other grocery options may be limited. USDA needs to hear directly from retailers about how these changes will affect their ability to continue serving SNAP customers.
Hearing from store operators on the ground who understand customer demand and supply-chain realities is essential to ensuring that the final rule supports both continued access for SNAP families and program integrity.
NACS will be submitting detailed comments on behalf of the industry, but individual retailer voices are vital. The more retailers who engage in this rulemaking, the more clearly USDA will understand how these requirements impact food access and the stores that millions of SNAP households rely on every day.
Click here to download a template to submit comments. The template allows you to add in information about your business and the communities you serve. Then send your letter to Margaret Mannion, NACS director of government relations, at mmannion@convenience.org, who will file your comments with USDA on your behalf.
Comments are due Monday, November 24.