By Dennis Archambault

The Trump Administration admitted that the proposal to eliminate SNAP benefits through a direct-to-home food box distribution idea was a trial balloon to raise the ire of those who support nutritious food access for low income people. The administration justified it as a cost-savings move that would have “the same level of food value” with products “grown by American farmers.” The administration released few details as to the nutritional value of the food, given that it would likely need to be processed. It would require employment and eliminate the $126 monthly SNAP allotment

For those of a certain age, the idea recalls the days when the federal government distributed surplus food to the poor, in the form of blocks of processed cheese and other products. Not appetizing, much less nutritious. Certainly, this is not community supported agriculture https://www.localharvest.org/csa/, regardless what the administration says about “grown by American farmers.”

Why not? Is this really a bad idea – as a supplement to SNAP, not as a replacement? The administration references “Blue Apron” https://www.blueapron.com/pages/sample-recipes as the inspiration for the proposal. If the federal government really wants to provide food “grown by American farmers,” how about providing food grown by “local” American farmers and nutritious processed food through a CSA program?, complete with recipes? When you think about food insecurity, transportation issues, and other barriers to accessing and consuming fresh, nutritious food, direct delivery has merit. Think Amazon, should that company be looking for an opportunity to demonstrate social responsibility.

What if the government used innovation to create a more effective supplemental food system along with an accessible home delivery program? Certainly, there are plenty of challenges to this idea, but maybe there’s a kernel here that’s not so bad after all.

All it takes is the will.

Dennis Archambault is vice president, Public Affairs, for Authority Health.