We all understand the critical need food plays in our lives and the lives of our families. As prices are rising across our state and our nation, nowhere is that more noticeable than in the grocery store. With food costs as high as we can remember, I am proud to introduce the Affordable Food Act in the NC House. This common-sense bill addresses several challenges at once: rising food costs, the decline of local farm viability, and the growing need to ensure every North Carolinian has access to healthy, affordable meals.
In our state, 1.4 million residents rely on SNAP, almost half of them children. In Wilson County alone, nearly one in five households depends on SNAP, with an enrollment rate of roughly 21%. As one of the counties with the highest percentage of agricultural land in North Carolina, Wilson County should not be a place where families struggle to access nutritious meals. These numbers underscore both the urgent need for strong food assistance programs and the vital role that local agriculture plays in sustaining our community.
Across the state, families continue to face food insecurity due to higher grocery prices and changes in federal food assistance. At the same time, our local farmers are navigating market volatility and the pressures of rapid loss of agricultural land. Right now, our state is projected to lose 1.2 million acres of farmland by 2040. The Affordable Food Act would invest $47 million in expanding the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, ensuring that North Carolina maintains its agricultural backbone.
Since food insecurity looks different in every community, this bill strengthens food and nutrition services by investing in mobile markets, food bank capacity, and targeted support for members in our community who need it most. Additionally, the Affordable Food Act protects consumers by prohibiting grocery stores from using electronic shelf labels for “dynamic pricing,” ensuring families aren’t hit with unpredictable price changes on essential goods. Together, these steps form a coordinated plan to make nutritious food more accessible and affordable for every North Carolinian.
For our veterans, service members, and military families, the Affordable Food Act delivers targeted support where it is needed most. This bill establishes a dedicated Military and Veteran Food Assistance Program to ensure our veterans are not left behind. By coordinating with food banks, veteran service organizations, and military family support groups, the Act builds a statewide network that meets these families where they are. This is a meaningful investment in the people who have sacrificed for our state and country, and it reflects our commitment to ensuring that no veteran in North Carolina struggles to put food on the table.
As we continue to see grocery prices increase, I am committed to working across the aisle to ensure North Carolina does all it can to help our communities and our neighbors. We have to come together to make sure we aren’t letting high prices, brought to us from Washington, keep our families from being able to eat. Supporting our communities is a privilege, and my door remains open whether you visit us at the North Carolina General Assembly, call our office at 919‑733‑5898, or email dante.pittman@ncleg.gov.