Bismarck, ND – Grocery stores in small towns can struggle to stay open, and that leaves people struggling to get healthy, fresh food. Now, some lawmakers want to find ways to fix the problem.

Fewer than 100 people live in Driscoll. Even fewer work there, especially after Norm’s grocery closed down a few years ago.

“It’s a huge impact. When people have to travel for groceries, they tend to buy all their other products at a neighboring community,” Rep. Jeff Magrum (R-District 28) said. Driscoll is in his legislative district.

For many in Driscoll, that means a half hour drive to Bismarck to shop. And they are not alone. According to SCR 4013, 15% of grocery stores in towns with fewer than 2,100 people have closed down since 2013. And not having a grocery store nearby can be bad for your health.

“This is a quality of life issue,” Sen. Jim Dotzenrod (D-District 26) said.

He sponsored the resolution in hopes the state will study the issue and find ways to get good food to rural areas.

“Trying to find food in the quantities and quality that you might expect, to try and get that into some of these rural areas has showed up in a number of different places,” he said.

It would look at anything from how stores can stay profitable to how to keep products on the shelves.

“They don’t move enough fruits and vegetables so they can’t keep fresh things on hand,” Rep. Magrum said.

The senate already approved the resolution. If the house does too, the study’s results will be presented to the next legislative assembly in two years.