North Dakota’s Grocery Pilot Program

A new program lead by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives aims to help sustain grocery stores in rural North Dakota by developing a joint distribution network and prioritizing locally produced food. 47 small-town grocery stores have closed in North Dakota in the last ten years, leaving to an increase in food deserts. While North Dakota leads the nation in the production of serval crops, the state doesn’t reap the benefits of this production because the crops are processed out of state and then sold back to North Dakota Stores for higher prices. The pilot project will create a food hub that will store and distribute local foods and seeks to band rural grocery stores together to leverage their purchasing power. Our Health Equity supports community solutions, like this pilot program, that expands access to vital nutritious food to all Americans. Read more here.