Senator Gary Siplin, District 19 — Press Release

Senator Gary Siplin's Healthy Foods Retail Bill Passes Senate Agriculture Committee

Tallahassee — Legislation aiming to increase access to affordable healthy foods in underserved communities passed unanimously in the Senate Agriculture Committee today.

Senate Bill 852, sponsored by state Senator Gary Siplin (D-Orlando), directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to establish a financing program to help fund projects that increase healthy food access in underserved areas.

Projects that may be funded by the program include: new construction of grocery stores; store renovations that improve availability and quality of fresh produce; and distribution outlets that enable food retailers in underserved communities to regularly obtain fresh produce.

The bill idea was brought to Senator Siplin by members of the Junior League of Greater Orlando, a community service organization of women who focus on identifying and creating programs that address the issues of child well-being and family enrichment.

“This bill will improve access to fresh produce, create health benefits that can lead to decreased Medicaid costs, creates jobs and expands markets for Florida farmers,” Siplin explained.

Senator Siplin’s bill heads next to the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations.

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