Farmers Market Bill At Risk
By: Amy Jeanroy
Published: April 27, 2011

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Nebraska legislation is going to be addressing a bill that would help fund rural grocery stores and farmers markets:
Omaha Sen. Brenda Council has introduced legislation this session that would offer tax credits and encourage private funding for grocery stores, farmers markets and community gardens that serve low-access areas. An amendment to her bill, scheduled for second-round debate this week, would reduce the total available tax credit each year to $200,000, down from the $350,000 she had proposed.
Council has argued that her legislation would extend more healthy eating options to both urban and rural regions in so-called "food deserts" that lack easy access.
Critics say that it would be detrimental to established grocery stores. Read more about both sides of the argument at Bloomburg Businessweek site.
The fact is, much of Nebraska is  cornfields and struggling communities, with a few Walmart Superstores thrown in. Many people have to drive over an hour to reach one of these large chain stores, and with budgets stretched to the limit, that is nearly impossible. With such hurdles to face, why wouldn't someone want to support local community programs, like farmers markets and small grocery stores, to help feed the rural community?
It might surprise you, that food deserts  exist in what we known nationally as farming country. This interesting conundrum is a result of farming only crops and livestock for the larger market, and not anything for the local one.
It is not for lack of know-how. Nebraska is the second largest producer of Ethanol in the country, according to Nebraska's Government website. Don't worry, some of the waste is being fed back to the cows. Nebraska also produces 20 percent of the nation's beef and is the 5th largest producer of pork. All of this sounds fantastic on a balance sheet, but the corn trucks drive through small communities of struggling families, on their way to the ethanol plant. What is wrong with this picture?