I write in response to the Trump Administration’s proposal to reduce the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by 30 percent and to introduce “harvest boxes” as an alternative, which provide pre-selected staples and shelf-stable food.

These measures are a step in the opposite direction of addressing food insecurity. Food insecurity has been increasing in the U.S. for the past several decades, even as the economy has been rising, due to a neglect to view healthy, affordable food as a right for people.

The cutbacks and suggestion of the “harvest box” would further increase privatization of food programs and reduce accessible, culturally relevant, self-empowered, fresh and healthy food. Rather than addressing food security, these measures would accelerate the drastic economic inequality, which is the root cause of the issue, making a true solution further from being attainable.

Adair Andre, Lewiston