U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, right, and store manager Meghan Renslow, center, listen as Hometown Foods co-owner Jill Eilderts answers a question while giving a tour of her downtown Traer grocery store last Thursday during the noon hour. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TAMA COUNTY – U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) made her way to Tama County last week Thursday, stopping by Traer’s local grocery store, Hometown Foods, on an official visit for both a tour and some lunchtime specials.

According to Hometown Foods owners Doug and Jill Eilderts – who purchased the Traer location in 2020 – there are 84 independent grocery stores in Hinson’s 22-county district which combined have a $784 million economic impact on the area.

Hinson’s visit on Thursday fell over the noon hour, a busy time for the locally-owned grocery store as both working and retired folks pick up lunch from the only deli counter in town serving both hot and cold made-from-scratch items.

“It’s good to be back,” Hinson said as she walked in the front door just after 12 o’clock with a couple staff members. She proceeded to greet the Eilderts, store manager Meghan Renslow, and clerks Tommy Jantzen and Kayley Renslow.

Previously Hinson visited Hometown Foods back in February of 2022 while on a business tour of downtown Traer. At the time, she only had room in her schedule for a brief pause inside the store where she heard about product outages and supply issues related to the pandemic. Similar to two years ago, the Eilderts told Hinson on Thursday that staffing continues to be one issue they don’t have to stress over too much thanks to competitive wages and a welcoming workplace culture.

A young boy and his caregiver, right, shop for potatoes inside Traer’s Hometown Foods last week Thursday during a visit by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, center, to the store. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“Labor’s good at the moment. We’re doing really well,” Doug Eilderts said.

Following introductions, Hinson was eager to bring up legislation she had been focusing on as of late including the REAL (Reciprocity Efficiency and Age Limitation) Trucking Act which she introduced in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Dec. 7 of last year.

According to Hinson, the bill would help alleviate the current shortage of truck drivers by allowing 18 to 20-year-olds to obtain CDLs for interstate travel.

While the pressing need for truck drivers in the U.S. has been well-publicized especially since the pandemic, much of the shortage has been attributed to retirements and turnover with truckers leaving the industry for better pay, better working conditions, and benefits.

It was unclear from Hinson’s visit if the legislation would address those aspects of the shortage.

While deli manager Brandon Schwarz (far left) works nearby, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (second from left) chats with Hometown Foods owners Doug and Jill Eilderts (right and second from right) and store manager Meghan Renslow on Jan. 4 in Traer. The Congresswoman’s visit was one of several she made across the IA-2 district last week as she kicked off the first quarter of her 2024 County Tour. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Small town investment

The bulk of Hinson’s visit to Traer took place just behind the back of the store’s busy deli counters where Hinson chatted extensively with both the Eilderts and Renslow about various issues including consumers’ purchasing trends and USDA inspections.

As a member of the House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Hinson plays a key role in USDA funding.

Following Hinson’s visit, Jill Eilderts – who sits on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association – told Tama-Grundy Publishing she brought up funding for WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) during their chat.

WIC – one of the largest federal nutrition programs in America – provides healthy foods at no cost to millions of low income mothers (including pregnant mothers) and children up to age five.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Specifically, Eilderts said she expressed concerned that WIC funding may be put at risk next summer to the extent that the program will be unable to add new mothers and babies, while also cutting benefits for those already enrolled in the program.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, total participation in WIC in Iowa during the month of September 2023 was 59,044 – an increase of 2.7% over Sept. 2022 participation.

Many WIC participants shop in both the Traer and Waterloo Hometown Foods locations (both owned by the Eilderts), using their benefits to obtain eggs, dairy, tuna, peanut butter, legumes, whole grains, fruits/vegetables, infant formula, baby food, and more.

“There are so many more participants using it right now,” Jill Eilderts said. “There’s a fear they’re going to run out of funding.”

The Eilderts also brought up the Credit Card Competition Act of 2023 during their conversation with Hinson. The legislation would address the 2-3% fee vendors must pay Visa or Mastercard when a credit card is swiped by focusing on the monopoly the two companies have on the market share which is estimated to be over 80% in the U.S.

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) smiles while making her way past Hometown Food’s lunch special board last week Thursday. Rep. Hinson was visiting the Traer grocery store over the noon hour. Both she and her staff picked up lunch to-go prior to leaving. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

“In small town Traer, a lot of people pay with checks,” Renslow said, “they know we have to pay a fee.”

“We have to build it into everything else,” Jill Eilderts added of the credit card fees. “Grocery stores operate on a hopefully net 1%. You’re hoping for 1%. … It’s tough (in Iowa) with prices. I think people perceive that we are more expensive (than chain grocers) but we’re not.”

At various times during the visit, the Eilderts, Renslow, and Hinson all agreed the importance of small town grocers – particularly in rural Iowa – cannot be overstated.

“A grocery store in a community like [Traer] is a stability thing – it’s important for communities to maintain vibrancy in rural America [and] to have a successful source of food,” Hinson said.

To keep that stability intact for the long term is important, Hinson further elaborated.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Prior to heading out, both Hinson and her staff ordered takeout from the deli counter with the Congresswoman choosing a breaded chicken sandwich and a side of potato salad – all homemade – for her to-go order, bypassing the day’s special of ham balls which would have been understandably difficult to eat in a car.

“Normally I’m eating from gas stations,” Hinson said with a laugh as she accepted her styrofoam container from deli associate Sandy Ingle.

Later as she checked out up front, she again commented on the luxury of being able to eat a homemade meal while traveling from stop to stop for official business, telling the clerks, “Normally I don’t get to eat this well on the road.”

Her parting comments further highlighting the fact that in rural Iowa having a hometown grocery store – Hometown Foods or otherwise – is something worth supporting.

PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER