Supermarket
Access
Access to quality, affordable supermarkets is key to a healthy community food ecosystem. Yet, many of NYC's lowest income communities do not have easy access to quality, affordable supermarkets. There is currently no comprehensive, full scale citywide approach to address this long entrenched problem.
NYC has an obligation to ensure this is an essential element of an equitable economic development model. The City’s FRESH program has limited reach and impact. Gentrification of formerly low-income communities often means investments in food infrastructure to meet the needs of newer, more affluent residents, at the expense of long-term low- and moderate-income residents.
CFA conducted a robust research project around supermarket access in NYC with the goal of bringing together key partners to identify a comprehensive approach to address the issue. In May 2023, CFA published the study and subsequent “NYC Full Service Grocery Access: Policy Recommendations” based on the study findings and engagement with both local and national experts. CFA recommends the following policy and programmatic strategies to achieve this vision, organized around six pillars:
Deepen & Expand Financing Tools
Build Operator Capacity
Leverage City Assets & Development Power
Support Alternative Ownership Models
Set Benchmarks & Improve Data Collection
Empower Communities to Lead Their Food Systems
