The grocery store question is interesting. I do think we need more local stores in neighborhoods, but a lot of the stores you're talking about moving onto Route 9 - those stores are *expensive*. Food prices continue to climb and adding more grocery stores that are aimed at middle-class and above shoppers doesn't solve the problem of less expensive groceries. But would neighborhood grocery stores solve the food price solution? If neighborhood grocery stores are a solution to a transportation problem, does it solve the issue that healthier food is expensive? Will those stores be able to sell fresher food at a similar cost to the Dollar General or because their client base will be smaller will it be as expensive as a Stop & Shop (honestly, the stop and shops in Framingham should be investigated for price gauging).
All great points, Kristin. Yes, the stores on Route 9 are expensive - that is a huge issue. One way to address food prices is on the federal level. The government doesn’t subsidize leafy vegetable crops in the same way it supports wheat, soy, and corn - you know, the key ingredients in a lot of junk food. As you can imagine, what we are seeing in Framingham is on the national scale, too. I am hoping with the Seabra Foods moving into Downtown, they will also provide cost affordable fresh foods at their market.
The grocery store question is interesting. I do think we need more local stores in neighborhoods, but a lot of the stores you're talking about moving onto Route 9 - those stores are *expensive*. Food prices continue to climb and adding more grocery stores that are aimed at middle-class and above shoppers doesn't solve the problem of less expensive groceries. But would neighborhood grocery stores solve the food price solution? If neighborhood grocery stores are a solution to a transportation problem, does it solve the issue that healthier food is expensive? Will those stores be able to sell fresher food at a similar cost to the Dollar General or because their client base will be smaller will it be as expensive as a Stop & Shop (honestly, the stop and shops in Framingham should be investigated for price gauging).
All great points, Kristin. Yes, the stores on Route 9 are expensive - that is a huge issue. One way to address food prices is on the federal level. The government doesn’t subsidize leafy vegetable crops in the same way it supports wheat, soy, and corn - you know, the key ingredients in a lot of junk food. As you can imagine, what we are seeing in Framingham is on the national scale, too. I am hoping with the Seabra Foods moving into Downtown, they will also provide cost affordable fresh foods at their market.