Your address shouldn't dictate your diet. I hope to change that with the new $4.5 million Healthy Stores Refrigeration Grant Program, which I proposed and secured funding for through the state budget. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has begun accepting applications on its website. The deadline to apply is April 25.

The idea is to help small neighborhood stores purchase refrigeration units, so they can offer fresh, California-grown produce and other healthier food options to their customers. This financial boost will not only help small business owners, but also the thousands of Californians who live in a food desert where the nearest grocery story is more than a mile away. These residents are often forced to shop at corner markets, which do not always have the resources to stock fresh, healthy food. This void contributes to diet-related diseases and, ultimately, poor health. We can't let this disparity in access continue.

Over in San Francisco's Oceanview district, Ana's Market is a shining example of how government programs can help transform a store's offerings for the benefit of local residents. Through the city's Healthy Retail SF Program, owners Thelma Orozco and Bayardo Talavera, bought a refrigerated case. Much to their surprise, the store sells out of its refrigerated produce by the time it closes every night. I want every underserved neighborhood in California to have the same healthy choices.

Sincerely,

Phil Ting
Assemblymember, 19th District