NJ bill aims to lower food costs: ‘addressing barriers’

TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) — Trips to the grocery store have not gotten much easier. It’s hurting Cecil Edwin of Trenton.

“There’s a difference if I choose to spend what I want to eat versus what I should eat, or what I can afford to eat, is different,” said Edwin. “What I [can afford] to eat is probably like $20 every two weeks, give or take. A loaf of bread, slice of sausage. What I would like to eat is good food which would cost be like maybe $100 or so every 3 to 4 weeks.”

Inflation may have cooled, but prices haven’t.

On Tuesday, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill ventured outside her northern New Jersey district to come to the Capital City to announce a new bill aimed at lowering food costs.

Her legislation, the REDUCE Food Prices Act, will expand tax credits to small food stores in counties with high grocery store concentration, like Mercer. She says it will level the playing field for smaller stores and reduce start-up costs that are barriers to entry.

“This seemed to be a great long-term way of both addressing competition,” said Sherrill (D-NJ 11th District), “so driving down food costs over the long term while at the same time addressing barriers to entry for small businesses.”

At Compare Fresh Market, which sits on the border between Trenton and Hamilton Township, the shelves are stocked with fresh and healthy options, something County officials want to see more of.

“Unfortunately, in too many parts of Mercer County, we know there are food deserts,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.

Some customers say by now, they’ve grown accustomed to the higher prices.

“When I was a kid, a candy bar was five cents,” said Charles Horne of Trenton. “They cost $2 and something now.”

Horne says these aren’t the old days anymore. He says that’s life—at least right now.

“You adjust to the time,” said Horne. “I mean, you have to.”

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