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Greetings!
Last week, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its version of the Environmental Bond bill, also known as the Mass Ready Act, which allows the state to borrow money to invest in long-term public projects that support local farms, stimulate local economies, and protect environmental assets. Now, we have a small window to ensure our State Senators vote to strengthen access to healthy, affordable food across the Commonwealth through the Massachusetts Food Trust Program (MFTP).
Massachusetts has a food insecurity crisis, and it’s getting worse.
In 2025, 40% of Massachusetts households, approximately 1.1 million, lacked access to healthy food, with 25% regularly missing meals or going hungry. These gaps fall hardest on BIPOC and low-income neighborhoods across the Commonwealth.
Why the Massachusetts Food Trust Program matters.
As cuts to federal nutrition and agricultural programs add strain to a statewide food system that is already overburdened, projects like MFTP play an important role in offsetting disruptions to farms, food pantries, and grocery stores. MFTP leverages state and private dollars to close gaps in food access by increasing the availability of healthy, affordable food retail in communities with few to no grocery stores. Since its creation almost 10 years ago, MFTP has expanded access to healthy food for more than 418,000 residents, supported small businesses, created more than 1,200 jobs, and boosted local agriculture.
It’s time to raise your voice.
The Senate will begin debate on the amendments on Wednesday, so please take a few minutes TODAY to call or email your State Senator to ask them to co-sponsor Amendment #12, which would authorize $10 million for the Massachusetts Food Trust Program in the Environmental Bond bill.
All the tools you need to take action in support of MFTP and our other environmental justice priorities are at your fingertips—just hit the button below.
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