As the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association gears up for the fall, we’re closing out a summer defined by one word: progress.
PFMA members know the hard truth about food insecurity: it’s not just a public health issue, it’s a supply chain issue, a labor issue, and a business issue. This year, we doubled down on policy proposals that would address hunger with real tools for retailers. Four of those bills, PFMA-backed and food merchant-focused, are now moving through the legislature.
Together, they reflect a targeted, pragmatic approach:
- Liability reform for donating food past best-by dates.
- A statewide SNAP distribution study to fix inefficiencies.
- Reauthorization of the Fresh Food Financing Initiative.
- And a healthy-incentive program that directly boosts fresh food sales.
Each of these measures creates space for PFMA members to do what they do best: get food where it’s needed, efficiently and safely. These aren’t abstract fixes. They are measurable policy levers that reduce waste, increase access, support stores in underserved areas, and inject dollars into local food economies.
We’re proud to have helped shape and advance them.
Meanwhile, PFMA is staying laser-focused on the budget process. The governor’s proposed spending plan contains items that reflect member priorities, including: an accelerated corporate tax cut schedule, sustained funding for organized retail crime enforcement, $2 million for the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, and reorganization of state economic development programs. It also touches on areas like cannabis and skill game regulation- two issues where we remain engaged to ensure fairness, clarity, and consistency for our members.
We support regulatory systems that promote a level playing field. We support business growth rooted in predictability and we support strong investments in food assistance.
Which brings us to the federal fight.
Right now, SNAP is under threat in Washington. What’s being debated isn’t just a budget line; it’s a market engine. SNAP supports over one million Pennsylvania households and drives over $1.7 billion in direct grocery sales annually. SNAP is not a subsidy for specific products; it’s a consumer driver across the entire supply chain.
SNAP households shop for the same food that everyone else does. There’s no such thing as SNAP milk and non-SNAP milk. Beef is beef. Bananas are bananas. The difference is that SNAP supports demand where it might otherwise collapse, and in doing so, it sustains farmers, producers, distributors, and stores alike.
When emergency allotments ended in 2023, we saw the impact immediately. Estimates put the loss to Pennsylvania’s food economy at nearly $190 million per month. That hit didn’t just hurt families, it hurt businesses.
Looking ahead, PFMA’s 2025 Fall Legislative Conference returns October 7-8 to the Hershey Country Club. If May was about insight and innovation, October is about action and advocacy.
We’ll bring together policymakers, agency leaders, and PFMA members from every corner of the food and beverage industry. We’ll dig into what passed, what stalled, and what’s coming next. We’ll continue pushing for smart policy that supports the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy: the businesses that grow, move, and sell our food.
We encourage all members to join us. Your voice shapes our agenda. Your stories give weight to our advocacy. And your presence helps make clear to lawmakers: this industry matters, and it’s paying attention.
As we wrap this budget cycle and look to the future, PFMA’s mission stays the same: cut
red tape, strengthen food access, and advocate for the businesses that feed Pennsylvania.
Let’s keep moving forward together!
