This abbreviated issue focuses on our new 2022 Local Food Count reports (5 state reports and 1 Regional report) and corresponding Local Food Counts Data Dashboard which are now live!
Over the past year, we have worked with our Partners in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut as well as a Regional research team to model Vermont's Local Food Count studies which have taken place since 2011. One of the chief initiatives of New England Feeding New England was to conduct Local Food Counts so that we can have a baseline estimate of how much local and regional food is being consumed in New England. Since Vermont is the only state to have a codified standard for local food, as detailed in State Act 129, this served as the blueprint for local food in this project.
What we found was that total New England food spending was estimated at $120.5 billion in 2022, while local/regional food spending was estimated at $3.7 billion, or 3.1%. It is clear that sustained and collaborative action, along with significant and coordinated investment of resources, will be required to meet a goal of 30% consumption of regional food products by 2030.
Despite robust outreach and follow-up efforts from state research associates, this process highlighted the inherent difficulty of getting the attention of private business entities and generating the trust necessary for them to share their proprietary sales and purchasing data with us. We need to educate entities and businesses about the local food count and to encourage increased sourcing and tracking of regionally-produced foods.
Every New Englander has a role to play to transition toward a more just, sustainable, and resilient food system. Everyone in our region - regardless of income, race, ethnicity, gender, location, citizenship status, language spoken, or physical ability - should be able to enjoy healthy, culturally-relevant local food from trusted sources.
As we plan for the next count in January 2026 to collect 2025 data, it is critical we work together - only then can we better support our farmers and producers, offer a living wage to our food systems workers, get more New England grown, raised, fished and harvested foods in our markets and restaurants, and make our regional food system more self-reliant by 2030.
Leah
Director, New England Food System Planners Partnership
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