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Issue #44 | July 2023
Supporting collective action
toward an equitable, sustainable, resilient, and connected local
food system in Massachusetts.
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Things you can do right now to
support systemic policy change.
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Testify at the food literacy hearing
There will be a hearing on An Act to promote food literacy (S.310; H.601) on July 18. Provide written or oral testimony in person or remotely to ensure schools are able to implement food literacy. See below for more details.
Comment on the MA Health Framework draft
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Highlights of the
Collaborative's work.
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Save the date for the 2023 MA Food System Forum
This one-day event will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 at Holy Cross in Worcester. We look forward to strengthening the statewide food system community, discussing important topics, and developing skills so we can all advocate for a stronger, more equitable MA food system. Registration details to follow.
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Welcome J. Harrison!
We are excited to share that James “J.” Harrison has stepped in as Interim Executive Director of the Collaborative as of June 26. J. was a steering committee member of the Collaborative for many years, serving during a time of early growth and success. He is the former Executive Director and a long time staff member of The Food Project, helping to launch their North Shore regional programs, as well as the Lynn Food and Fitness Alliance and FoodCorps’ Massachusetts-based programs. For the past three years, J. has worked as an organizational consultant, primarily helping non-profits from across MA with strategic planning and organizational transitions. His deep commitment to an equitable, sustainable food system, as well as his long-standing relationships with the Collaborative’s staff and steering committee members, and many other food system stakeholders in MA, make him the perfect fit for this role.
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Food literacy hearing details
As noted above, there will be a hearing of the Joint Committee on Education on An Act to promote food literacy (S.310; H.601) on July 18! This is an important opportunity to show how this legislation will support schools to offer food literacy lessons and impact you and your community. Anyone can participate anytime by sending written testimony and the public will be able to register soon to participate virtually or in person to provide oral testimony.
MA Health Framework draft details
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Health and Physical Education Framework draft has just been released which provides an opportunity to shape what students learn about nutrition and food for decades to come. MA learning standards define what all K - 12 students are expected to know and be able to do and this specific framework includes nutrition education. The previous framework has been in place since 1999.
The public is invited to submit comments about this draft before August 28. The Collaborative is happy to see that there is a focus on how food is connected to culture and discussions about consuming locally grown foods, as well as some focus on food production and food access. However, neither school gardens nor culinary skills are mentioned even though research has shown that experiential education around growing and preparing food can improve nutrition. Learning these skills would also prepare students for careers in the Massachusetts food system. We also believe there should be a stronger emphasis on food justice and how students can engage in working toward food justice in their community. Please submit comments about this draft by completing this survey or by emailing Kristen McKinnon at the Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Please reach out to Brittany Peats for support about submitting testimony or comments or if you’d like to join an upcoming info session on these opportunities.
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State Budget Update
The fiscal year 2024 state budget is being debated by the six-member conference committee, made up of the chairs and vice-chairs of the House and Senate ways and means committee, and a ranking member of the minority party from each chamber. The legislature has passed a continuing budget that funds the state government through July, which gives the conferees additional time to work through the differences in the House and Senate proposals. The Collaborative has advocated for: an earmark of $1,000,000 for food literacy, a renewal of $250,000 for the local food policy council grant program, and, for the first time in the annual operating budget, $25 million for the Food Security Infrastructure Grant program, to be included in the conference committee's proposal.
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Inspiring work being done by some
of our friends in Massachusetts.
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Friends of Holly Hill Farm
Friends of Holly Hill Farm is a nonprofit organic farm with an educational mission. Operating Cohasset’s last working farm, they provide organic food for the local community and food pantries; educate all ages about the practices of conservation, the natural world, and sustainable farming; provide teens with volunteer opportunities to address local food insecurity and participate in on-site conservation efforts; and offer the local community access to a peaceful and natural setting.
Through their Farm to Food Pantry program, staff and volunteers grow vegetables to be donated. The farm plans to donate 5,000 pounds of grown or gleaned produce this year to the Quincy, Weymouth, Scituate, and Hull food pantries. As part of this program, high school students volunteer and learn about food insecurity and farming. In addition, the farm sells their organic produce at their farm stand and at local farmers markets and they accept SNAP and farmers market coupon programs.
Friends of Holly Hill Farm works with 40 elementary schools to build school gardens, tend to them, and provide farm-based curriculum on the farm and in schools. In the spring, the farm educators lead students to prepare the beds for planting, plant lettuce seeds, harvest the leaves, and enjoy a salad party. Students also take field trips to the farm and there are summer programs for kids. Meredith Laban, executive director of Friends of Holly Hill Farm, says, “the farm is a great entry and access point to farming and gardening and learning where your food comes from.”
There are many community and nonprofit farms throughout the state that provide important food access and educational programming. A group of community farms in the Greater Boston area have been meeting in person to talk about shared challenges around land security and exchange best practices around farm management and on farm education. To learn more, reach out to Meredith Laban.
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Thoughtful insights about
food system issues.
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The Local Food Purchase Assistance Program - Impacts and Opportunities
The Wallace Center has published a new report outlining the initial impact of the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (LFPA). In December 2021, the USDA announced the $900M LFPA. The program is operated through non-competitive cooperative agreements with state agencies, and territory and tribal governments, who in turn work with local farmers, food hubs, food banks, and community-based organizations to implement the program.
In Massachusetts, MDAR awarded $7,260,000 in LFPA grants to 16 organizations across the Commonwealth in 2022. MDAR is accepting applications for the LFPA Plus Program until August 4. It will award funds to businesses and nonprofits that will buy food from socially disadvantaged farmers and producers to provide to underserved communities including food hubs, food pantries, municipalities, community health centers, senior centers, farmers markets, mobile food markets, food co-ops, corner stores, and grocery stores.
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Job Posting Sites
Job Listserv
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Upcoming Food System Events
Know of another great source of events or jobs? Let us know!
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The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative envisions a local food system where everyone has access to healthy food, to land to grow food, to good jobs, and to the systems where policy decisions are made. Read more about our vision and our work.
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