Fresh Food Act of 2024 aims to reduce food insecurity, help farmers across Georgia

Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) says the bill will give tax credits to grocery stores that open in underserved communities.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) was in Macon Friday, to announce the Fresh Food Act of 2024. It’s a new bill geared toward increasing fresh food access across Georgia.

If passed, it will give tax credits to grocery stores that open in underserved communities, including in all 120 Georgia counties that are classified as rural by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill also seeks to help the Georgia agriculture industry by offering tax incentives to stores that use produce from local farmers.

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller says these policies would have a direct and much needed impact on his constituents.

“We have a lack of infrastructure as far as stores out there, and that’s a business decision,” Mayor Miller said. “This allows them to make a better business decision for Macon-Bibb County because they’ll get these tax credits. So we think we’ll have more stores that will be opened up because of this.

Kathy McCollum, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank President and CEO, says the issue of food insecurity looms large over Middle Georgia.

“It’s estimated that almost 107,000 of our Middle Georgia neighbors are food insecure,” McCollum said. “That’s one in seven people. When we think about what it looks like for children, it’s one in four children facing food insecurity.”

Speaking at the United Way of Central Georgia, Sen. Ossoff hopes having more stores nearby to choose from decreases costs due to increased competition. Mayor Miller says he’s excited for the impact this could have in Macon.

“The more stores we can get out there and the closer we can get it to residents that need it the most, the better and more healthy community we’ll have,” Mayor Miller said.