June 26, 2019
As a follow up to the Collaborative’s March gathering to discuss how to support farmers in climate change mitigation and remediation, we asked meeting attendees to rank the importance of the 30 land and farming recommendation summaries from the MA Local Food Action Plan related to helping farmers and fishermen cope with climate change. These […]
read more…March 28, 2019
The Campaign for HIP Funding has started off the 2019 budget cycle in full force, with tremendous support from legislators, a great lobby day, and the development of some new tools for advocates. The campaign steering committee has developed a $8.5 million ask for HIP in FY20. This will be enough funding to operate the […]
read more…March 27, 2019
Our March newsletter includes updates on the Campaign for HIP Funding; our work on food waste, climate change, and farmland access; legislation we're tracking; and more! Read it here.
read more…December 21, 2018
More than 200 advocates and practitioners from all sectors of the food system attended the 2nd annual Massachusetts Food System Forum on December 12 in Leominster. The day was spent highlighting food system stakeholders’ work over the past year, and planning for collaborative action to come. Collaborative co-chair Liz Sheehan Castro, Director of Advocacy at […]
read more…December 21, 2018
<p>Our December newsletter features updates on HIP, a report from the 2nd Annual MA Food System Forum, introductions to new Collaborative staff members, policy updates, and more.</p><p>Read the newsletter <a href=”https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-the-Collaborative–Forum-recap–HIP-updates–new-publications–and-more.html?soid=1127423385830&aid=z16hcJMVjPo”>here</a>, and click <a href=”https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=0017MUPXRF6yzefTy43dPu6aPstawW5k658PBKT1p71A1nA8P2EXuGwtLCvqkJihPGdrS6LUT-3k7LnGIaaR8r0dlF0-A0Ssz2stMvbPonQ_jdkCM8JGOdrlV1FD7cWkijXPj95MhAmqS09JFp_YH8CJjsPg_19KHsY”>here </a>to subscribe to get future issues in your inbox.</p>
read more…October 12, 2018
2nd Annual Massachusetts Food System ForumWednesday, December 12, 2018 • 9:30 am – 3:30pmDoubleTree Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, LeominsterRegistration Now Open Speakers:Kathleen Merrigan, former United States Deputy Secretary of AgricultureMA State Representative Steve Kulik Join us for a day of networking and collaborating as we build on the success of last year’s MA Food System […]
read more…July 26, 2018
Governor Baker has signed the FY2019 budget. The budget includes $4 million for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which doubles SNAP households’ purchases of fresh produce when they buy it directly from farmers. This program launched in April 2017 and has already generated more than $5 million in sales for MA farmers and provided tens […]
read more…June 12, 2018
The MA Food System Collaborative has released “Sustainability and Equity in the Massachusetts Food System: A Progress Report.” This report showcases organizations, businesses and networks working toward the goals in the MA Local Food Action Plan, which was completed at the end of 2015. Each organization highlighted in the report is working toward a sustainable, […]
read more…June 12, 2018
The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) re-launched in May after a suspension of slightly more than a month. As the growing season begins, SNAP recipients are once again able to earn a one-to-one match for their purchases directly from farmers at participating farmers markets, mobile markets, farmstands, and CSAs. The program’s suspension on April 15 happened […]
read more…June 12, 2018
The governor has introduced, and the legislature is considering, the quadrennial environmental bond bill. The 2018 version of this spending authorization (H.4599, An Act promoting climate change adaptation, environmental and natural resource protection, and investment in recreational assets and opportunity) proposes funding for many programs supported by Plan recommendations. The Collaborative has been working with […]
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