SF Supervisor’s New Grocery Pilot Program Aims to Cut Prices By Up to 25%

SF Supervisor Bilal Mahmood is launching a pilot program to help neighborhood grocers and nonprofits pool produce orders, negotiate lower wholesale prices, and make groceries more affordable for residents.San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood and the Food and Agriculture Action Coalition Toward Sovereignty (FAACTS) announced the District 5 Grocery Affordability Initiative Thursday, a pilot that would let neighborhood grocers and nonprofits combine their orders for produce and other staples to negotiate lower wholesale prices. As Mission Local reports, Mahmood s office estimates the arrangement could reduce wholesale costs by around 10% and prices for consumers by up to 25%.The program would initially involve the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center and the nonprofit Farming Hope, with at least five independent grocers expected to join later. Former congressional candidate Saikat Chakrabarti contributed $50,000 to fund the design phase, but the initiative needs another $200,00