The City wants to increase low-cost healthy food options for residents.

• Good nutrition is important for individual and community health.
• Knowing what to eat is important, but having access to healthy food options matters too.

In this section

• What to know
• Requirements
• Resources for store owners and operators

List of required staple foods

See the staple food ordinance flyer

Make healthy food easy to find

While it's easy to find healthy foods at a supermarket or co-op, many people shop for groceries at their neighborhood:

• Corner store
• Gas station
• Other local retailer

At these stores, soda, chips, and candy are cheap and easy to find, but nutritious choices are often limited.

To make nutritious foods easy to find no matter where people shop, the City requires all licensed grocery stores to stock a variety of basic food items called “staple” foods.

Benefits to licensed grocery stores of stocking staple foods

• Guarantees that healthy food items are always available, which can boost the number of customers and sales.
• Improves how happy customers feel and makes them more loyal.
• Helps stores stay ahead of their competitors in the market.

Staple food requirements

Licensed grocery stores in Minneapolis must stock the following types of staple foods:

• Dairy and dairy alternatives
• Animal or vegetable proteins
• Fruits and vegetables
• 100% juice
• Whole grains
• Beans, peas, and lentils

For more about the staple food requirements, read the City Code of Ordinances Chapter 203 - Grocery Stores.

See the City ordinance

For more information about what is required in each category, see our staple foods ordinance flyer.

See flyer

Stores that are required to stock staple foods

• Traditional supermarkets
• Co-ops
• Corner/convenience stores
• Gas stations
• Dollar/discount stores
• Pharmacies
• General retailers selling grocery items

Some businesses are exempt from the staple foods requirements.

Read the current ordinance to know what businesses are exempt.

See the City ordinance

• Store owners and operators can talk to their assigned Minneapolis Health Department health inspector.
• Health inspectors can help store owners understand requirements and how to comply with the law.

Store owners and operators who need help stocking staple foods can explore these resources:

BrightSide Produce

BrightSide Produce is a non-profit that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables to local stores at an affordable price.

Read more about BrightSide Produce and their corner store program

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture offers grants for store owners to purchase refrigerators, freezers, and other equipment needed to stock healthy foods.

Read about the Good Food Access Program equipment grants