In this Issue
- Response, Recovery and Resilience in the MA Local Food System: a Discussion Series
- Massachusetts’ Local Food System: Perspectives on Resilience and Recovery
- HIP funding increasing, usage stabilizing, and new vendors coming on line
- Good support for food system in delayed budget process
- Urban Ag Coalition continues to share best practices
- Learning from COVID: The need for local food system resilience in the face of climate change
- Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program commits more funds
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Farm Credit East releases Northeast Economic Engine: Agriculture, Forest Products and Commercial Fishing
- Food System Articles We've Been Reading
- Job Postings and Upcoming Food System Events
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Response, Recovery and Resilience in the MA Local Food System: a Discussion Series |
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In lieu of our annual in-person forum, the MA Food System Collaborative will host a series of discussions this winter to examine the challenges COVID-19 has presented our local food system with, and what policy solutions might be needed to address them. Building off what we’ve learned from the Massachusetts’ Local Food System: Perspective on Resilience and Recovery report, these discussion sessions will be the next step to take action collectively.
Each of the four sessions will feature presentations from practitioners and policy experts who will share how they’ve adapted during COVID, how racial justice weaves through their work, and how policy can play a role in the response. Interactive breakout sessions will follow the presentations, as an opportunity to grow relationships and develop responses to learnings. Participation in all of these sessions is free but pre-registration is encouraged.
Keynote Panel, Wednesday, December 9, 2-4 pm: Furthering racial equity through local food system work and policy development
Panel 1, Thursday, December 17, 2-4 p.m.: Challenges facing Massachusetts farms: land, education, regulation, and economic and financial sustainability
Panel 2, TBD, week of January 4, 2021: Local food system supply chain: balancing safety, efficiency, and sustainability
Panel 3, TBD, week of January 11, 2021: Strengthening food security and increasing local food access for all
Go to our website for more information and to register for the panels.
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Massachusetts’ Local Food System: Perspectives on Resilience and Recovery |
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On October 28 The Collaborative released Massachusetts’ Local Food System: Perspectives on Resilience and Recovery. The report, based on listening sessions held with food system stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth, refreshes the 2015 Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan with updated goals and recommendations based on the COVID-19 crisis and the additional work and learning that has occurred in both the private and public sectors in the last five years.
Perspectives shared in the report include ideas for expanding access to SNAP, increasing nutrition education for children and families, and better supporting food is medicine programs, among others. Food production topics covered include the need for more resources for UMass Extension, the importance of setting benchmarks and goals for farmland protection, and thoughts on how state grant programs can better support the constituencies they are intended to serve. And recommendations throughout the report stress the need for concerted efforts to undo centuries of systemic racism with actions that move toward a more racially equitable food system.
The report’s findings will help guide the Collaborative’s work, and is offered as a resource to support other stakeholder organizations, funders, and policymakers as they work toward a sustainable, equitable, and resilient local food system. The Collaborative has held a number of briefings about the report already, and staff are available for additional conversations with groups that are interested in learning more about its recommendations and how to engage in ongoing work. Contact winton@mafoodsystem.org.
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HIP funding increases, usage stabilizing, and new vendors coming on line |
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Debate has begun on the fiscal year 2021 budget with the release of the House Ways and Means budget on November 5, and the Senate version on November 12. Those drafts each included a major investment in local food, with $13 million in support for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), a significant boost over last year’s $8.5 million, and an indication that lawmakers are aware of the value of the program and have heard advocates’ voices. This is a tremendous victory, particularly in light of the fact that this budget is tight and there are very few increases for programs. We appreciate Ways and Means chairs Aaron Michlewitz and Michael Rodrigues, and Speaker Robert Deleo and Senate President Karen Spilka’s recognition of HIP as an important recovery program. We encourage you to join us in urging all policymakers to support this increase. The Campaign for HIP Funding will gather our coalition soon to discuss next steps - the fiscal year 2022 budget is fast approaching!
HIP use trended slightly down this summer, but increased again in September. The disruption to local farmers’ markets caused by COVID, as well as consumer safety concerns, were likely factors in this slower growth. The Campaign will be engaging stakeholders in a longer-term planning process this winter to discuss what we’ve learned from COVID, and to ensure participation growth continues.
Many new and previously authorized HIP farmers that were approved for new points of sales received Food Security Infrastructure Grant awards to help fund the new terminals, including Riquezas del Campo, Back Azimuth Farm, Hilltown mobile market, and All Farmers. These additional points of sale are important to increase equitable availability of the program across the state, and we welcome these farmers to join our advocacy once they’ve been onboarded. Contact rebecca@mafoodsystem.org for more information about HIP and the Campaign.
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Good support for food system in delayed budget process |
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Delayed for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work has begun in earnest on the state budget for fiscal year 2021, which runs through June 30, 2021. The Massachusetts House of Representatives is debating its draft this week, the Senate will tackle theirs next week, and the process is projected to be completed by Thanksgiving.
The inclusion of $13 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (see article above) in the House and Senate drafts is one of a number of positive signs that indicate policymakers are paying attention to food system needs and recognize the importance of investing in the local food system as part of a strong recovery.
Other examples include:
- $30 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP).
- $600,000 for Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline.
- $500,000 for the Buy Local organizations.
- $600,000 for the Child Nutrition Outreach Program
- $120,000 for Mass Farm to School.
- A 10% increase in Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) cash assistance benefits.
The Collaborative appreciates the work of the Food System Caucus and House leadership in including these supports in the budget draft. Completion of the FY21 budget will happen just in time to begin work on the FY22 budget, with the governor’s draft expected in January as policymakers work to get back on schedule in the new legislative session.
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Urban Ag Coalition continues to share best practices |
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For the past six months urban agriculture organizations have been meeting to share updates, skills, and learn from one another as part of a coalition that has been facilitated by the Collaborative, in partnership with Lydia Sisson and Liz Wills O'Gilvie. This coalition arose from a need identified by urban ag organizations to better facilitate communication among the groups to share ideas and resources in order to strengthen programming and operations. Heading into this winter members of the coalition were asked to respond to a brief survey that would help plan winter sessions.
Respondents shared that sessions on the Food Security Infrastructure Grant, farmers market models, and winter market planning helped them think through problems they’ve been facing in their work and answered questions they'd had. Respondents also indicated an interest in continuing practitioner skill shares, policy skill shares, conversations on how to best challenge racist narratives in the food system, and engaging external presenters to share about their work.
“I would like to see more multidisciplinary and multi-industry collaborations and discussions around resource sharing and holistic planning around the food systems, urban planning/design, and economic systems change,” said one survey respondent. “It would be great to have stakeholders of campuses (schools, hospitals, housing developments, senior centers, etc.) collaborate with urban farmers. Would love to have more honest discussions and strategy sessions about increasing the economic viability of urban farming, increasing land access, promoting more support for for-profit/social enterprises (particularly for BIPOC farmers and young farmers), creating city and regional food hubs, increasing regional collaborations, increasing nutrient density of cultivated crops…”
With this feedback, and the responses received from many others, in mind, planning has begun and winter sessions will be announced soon! Please email Becca Miller and Lydia Sisson to receive information about these sessions as it becomes available.
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Learning from COVID: The need for local food system resilience in the face of climate change |
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Disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, and Massachusetts’ state and local responses to that disruption, highlight the impact and benefit our food system has on all of us. COVID’s acute impact on our food system also exposed systemic issues that, if not addressed, will become more problematic as we face the unrelenting pressures caused by climate change.
During listening sessions and conversations that led to the Collaborative’s recent report, Massachusetts’ Local Food System: Perspectives on Resilience and Recovery, climate change was often cited as one of the core concerns to address as recovery from the COVID pandemic progresses. That perspective underscores the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) assessment that the food system can positively impact climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as reduce poverty and improve public health. Our state’s policies and legislation on climate change must recognize and address the needs of our local food system. Such consideration will, as the IPCC report says, generate social, ecological, economic and development benefits that contribute to eradicating poverty and which foster livelihoods that are more resilient for those who are vulnerable.
The Collaborative’s report offers insight on policies that are likely to be most impactful in addressing climate change issues, including:
- Farmers and fishermen should be compensated for the environmental services they provide. From carbon sequestration, to water storage and filtering, to protecting wildlife habitat, farmers and fishermen’s work creates positive benefits that have real value to the Commonwealth. Creating mechanisms to compensate farmers and fishermen for these efforts helps producers remain viable and continue to provide both healthy food and these additional public benefits while competing with industrial food production that intensify climate change.
- Significantly fund and rebuild our state’s Agricultural Cooperative Extension System in order to provide the research, information, and tools required to successfully adapt to climate change as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Tax policy developed for climate change programs or concerns should ensure local farmers and fishermen do not have a net increase in tax liability.
- Farmers should be able to benefit from solar development on less- and non-productive farmland.
- Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness projects, meant to help cities and towns build resilience in the face of climate change, should include food system projects.
- The state’s renewable energy goals should include increasing support for anaerobic digesters in a manner that also provides farms with less expensive and more readily available soil organic matter inputs.
To continue reading, go to our website.
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Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program commits more funds |
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The state has now committed nearly half of the $36 million in funding offered through the Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program, intended to “support a resilient, secure local food supply chain in Massachusetts.” Grants fund “critical investments in technology, equipment, capacity, and other assistance to help local food producers, especially in the distribution of food insecure communities.” More than 1,300 applications were submitted for consideration, more than for any other state grant RFP ever, demonstrating the need for support for all sectors of the local food system.
The fourth round of grants, announced on October 28, included support for equipment that will allow farms to process SNAP payments; vehicles that will facilitate the delivery of food from farms and schools; processing equipment for dairies, fisheries, and beekeepers; and technology that will increase efficiency for both producers and service providers. Details about the program and all grantees are available here.
Additional announcements about the remaining grants are expected in the coming months.
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Farm Credit East releases Northeast Economic Engine: Agriculture, Forest Products and Commercial Fishing
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An update to its 2015 edition, the report highlights the economic impact of the agricultural sector in the Northeast, finding that “with more than 75,000 farms and more than 11 million acres in farmland, agriculture is very much part of the region’s working landscape.”
The report calculates the sector’s economic impact in Massachusetts to be $14 billion, led by greenhouse, nursery and floriculture. $225 million in sales of grains, vegetables, and fruits employs more than 8,700 people and amounts to $445 million in economic impact. More than 2,900 people are employed in livestock and dairy operations, accounting for nearly $173 million in economic impact. The seafood industry employs more than 21,000 people and has an economic impact of more than $3.5 billion.
The report is an important reference guide for advocates to turn to when demonstrating the importance of supporting local agriculture.
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Food System Articles We've Been Reading |
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A letter from the Holyoke Food and Equity Collective encourages the city to make it easier for residents to keep backyard hens as a way to increase food security.
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Riguezas Del Campo, an immigrant-led, worker-owned cooperative farm in Hatfield, is in its second season and is selling at the Tuesday Farmers Market in Northampton.
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“The next crisis will require different responses. Whether it’s a power grid interruption, fires, a climatic shift that alters our ability to grow food, or another crisis yet unforeseen, Massachusetts residents will still need to eat and the local food system will need to be resilient enough to adapt quickly to help them do so. That will require thoughtful public policy and investment.” An op-ed from Collaborative Director Winton Pitcoff.
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The Boston Food Forest Coalition creates food forests which are crosses between community gardens, urban farms, and parks.
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The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School and the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School have released a ‘Blueprint for a National Food Strategy.’
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Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and state Reps Paul Schmid and Alan Silvia visited the local farmers market to see the Healthy Incentives Program in action.
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Three lessons from the food system during the pandemic: “(1) food insecurity not only reflects but reinforces socio-economic inequity, (2) food workers are essential yet treated as sacrificial, and (3) racialized migrant food workers face unique forms of inequity.”
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‘Workers Keeping Americans Fed Are Going Hungry in the Heartland’
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A small number of food processors control the price and flow of food. Addressing power is essential to achieving a just food system.
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Job Postings and Upcoming Food System Events
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Job Posting Sites:
Job Listservs:
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Upcoming Food System Events:
Know of another great source of events or jobs? Let us know!
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Massachusetts Food System Collaborative | www.mafoodsystem.org
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