News

The Collaborative had a busy year. We continued to convene our four networks and the Campaign for HIP funding and Campaign for Food Literacy. We organized three successful lobby days and successfully advocated for more than $26M for our budget priorities. The Collaborative also created an internship program, worked with the Department of Elementary and […]

The 2024 MA Food System Forum will take place on Tuesday, December 17th at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester from 8 am – 4 pm. Purchase your ticket here. If the event fee of $60 is prohibitive, we have a limited number of scholarships. To apply for a Forum Scholarship, please fill out […]

The New England Food System Planners Partnership has just released the Regional Food Count 2022, shedding light on local food spending across New England. With $2.2 billion of the region’s $120.6 billion food expenditure going towards local products, there’s a huge opportunity for growth. This report is crucial in the journey towards a more resilient […]

Fiscal Year 2025 budget The legislature’s formal session for 2023 – 2024 wrapped up at the end of July, and while there are some growing calls to return for informal session this fall, things will be quieter on Beacon Hill until the new legislature is seated in January.  The fiscal year 2025 budget was finally […]

The 2024 Massachusetts Food System Forum will be held in Worcester at Holy Cross on December 17, 2024. See the full agenda and breakout session information here Event Address: Hogan Campus Center, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College St, Worcester, MA As in past years, we expect more than 250 partners, people with lived […]

Last month the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) awarded more than $1 million to 14 organizations working to protect and build soil health in Massachusetts. With this funding, these organizations will propel the implementation of the Healthy Soils Action Plan (HSAP), a roadmap for improving ecosystem health and enhancing the climate mitigation […]

This week the Massachusetts Senate is considering S.2856, an economic development bond bill. Please call your state senator by THURSDAY (7/11/24) and urge them to support three amendments that would provide needed support for the Commonwealth’s local food system. Find your state senator’s contact information here. Contact rebecca@mafoodsystem.org with any questions.

This week the MA House of Representatives is considering H.4789, an economic development bond bill. Please call your representatives by THURSDAY (6/27/24) and urge them to support five amendments that would provide needed support for the Commonwealth’s local food system. Find your representative’s contact information here. Contact rebecca@mafoodsystem.org with any questions.

In late May, the Massachusetts Senate completed its budget debate, resulting in some budgetary wins for the local food system. The Senate budget includes $1,000,000 for food literacy, $250,000 for the local food policy council grant program, and $100,000 for the Cliff Effect Pilot Program.  The Senate budget funds the MDAR administrative budget at a […]

Last week, state senators filed 1,100 amendments have been filed to the Senate Ways and Means fiscal year 2025 draft budget. Senators now have a week to review and consider these amendments before debating and voting on a final budget starting on May 21st, 2024. Senators may choose to cosponsor as many amendments as they […]