Greenwood Commonwealth. August 15, 2023.
Editorial: Food Security
Andy Gipson, the state commissioner of agriculture and commerce, recently proposed that the Mississippi Legislature allocate between $100 million and $400 million of its substantial surplus toward agriculture infrastructure in order to ensure the state has reliable supplies of food.
The Magnolia Tribune quoted Gipson as saying such an investment is important so that the state can avoid future food shortages that already have hit elsewhere in the world.
He envisions three regional food hubs across the state, one each in the north, central and southern areas. The state would invest in food processing equipment that could supply “food deserts” in Mississippi, and it also would place more emphasis on local farmers markets.
The idea is sound, although lawmakers are sure to want more details about how that much money would be spent. Although there is no shortage of food right now in Mississippi, Gipson is correct to plan for the worst case.
If anything, however, such a plan should include efforts to help areas of the state without sufficient businesses to provide healthy food to nearby residents. That’s Mississippi’s current food problem.
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