RISING FOOD PRICES + SNAP CUTS CHALLENGE LATINO FAMILIES

Milk prices could rise about 50 cents per gallon this year, and USDA forecasts that grocery store food prices could increase 3.5% in 2014. California’s drought is making fresh fruit and vegetable prices rise, and poultry prices rose 5% last year. And, Congress has cut SNAP benefits by billions. Latinos are less likely to live near supermarkets offering healthy food at reasonable prices, and non-Hispanic neighborhoods have three times the number of supermarkets as Hispanic neighborhoods. The Latino community continues to suffer from an 8% unemployment rate and nearly one in four families struggle with hunger.

 

Source: National Council of LaRaza, 3/31/14, Latino Challenges