New Grocery Store Model Improves Access to Healthy Food for Low Income Minnesotans

(KNSI) – Food insecurity has been exacerbated by the pandemic, but community-level advocates say affordable, healthy options shouldn’t get lost in response to hunger.

Kurt Vickman, the founder of Good Grocer, says the store centers around having 90-percent of staff as hired volunteers, reducing labor costs, allowing the store to offer a 20-percent discount for those who sign up for the work.

“The heartbeat and mission of Good Grocer is to transform the food system to make fresh, natural foods accessible and affordable to everyone in the community.”

The store will also fund a separate spot where local customers who qualify can get food at an even bigger discount each week. Aside from rising food costs, the area where the store is located saw many stores destroyed by riots last spring.

Kelly Coughlin is a dietician and volunteer for the American Heart Association of Minnesota and says places like Good Grocer help call attention to the lack of food options for the elderly or low income families.
“You know, you go to a fast food place and you can get quite a lot of food for not very much money – yet is that supporting someone’s health?”

She points to research from the Heart Association that links food insecurity with higher rates of a common type of heart disease.

Coughlin says other models are also being tried that should get more support, such as community clinics providing healthy food as “prescriptions” for at-risk patients with limited means.

If you or someone you know needs help, there are three food pantry options around the St. Cloud area.

Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Bank can be reached at 320-229-4560.

The Salvation Army can be reached at 320-252-4552.

The St. Joseph Community Food Shelf can be reached at (320) 363-7505 ext. 100.