A bill is being processed in the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) that aims to bring fresh or minimally processed foods to urban areas where access to such food products is scarce or impossible.
Bill 255/23, called the “Food Oasis” program, was authored by deputy Dani Balbi (PCdoB) and was approved in the first discussion on Thursday (14). The measure still needs to undergo a new vote in plenary.
According to the proposal, to comply with the program, the Executive will be able to install popular restaurants using fresh or minimally processed foods, with at least 30% in partnership with family farmer cooperatives, in addition to encouraging the creation of open-air markets with these groups.
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The program also provides for the promotion of the creation of community gardens in accordance with Law 9,879/22. The identification of urban deserts can be done in partnership with the Union and municipalities. The expenses for the measure will be borne by the company’s own and/or existing budget allocations, supplemented if necessary.
“Residents of these regions need to go to the city center or other places with greater purchasing power, where fruit and vegetable markets, markets, fishmongers, butchers, grocery stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and other establishments where it is possible to find fresh food are concentrated. or minimally processed. In 12 of the 21 Brazilian capitals, the group of sub-districts in which there are a smaller number of establishments offering healthy food is also the group with the lowest income”, stated Dani Balbi.
Source: BdF Rio de Janeiro
Editing: Jaqueline Deister
