October 10, 2023
The Collaborative is hiring a Network Manager who will develop, implement and manage projects that support a sustainable, equitable, and resilient local food system. The Network Manager will work with a portfolio of stakeholder organizations to clarify the public policy issues that affect their work and their constituencies, build their capacity to engage in advocacy […]
read more…August 30, 2023
The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative seeks an Executive Director who is a visionary leader and systems thinker with deep knowledge of and passion for food system issues and of racial inequities to lead this impactful and highly regarded organization toward its vision of a local food system where everyone has access to healthy food, to land to […]
read more…August 1, 2023
The fiscal year 2024 budget has been signed by Governor Maura Healey into law! This year’s budget includes several important wins for a sustainable, equitable, resilient food system. The Food Security Infrastructure Grant program is funded for the first time in the annual budget at $25 million, signaling a strong commitment from the Governor and […]
read more…August 1, 2023
This growing season has been particularly hard for farmers across the state. This summer’s frequent storms led to saturated soils and flooding in the Connecticut River Valley and central Massachusetts in mid-July. Subsequent floods during the following days added to the existing damage. What used to be once in a generation flooding is now a […]
read more…June 5, 2023
A new report puts forth a regional goal of producing and consuming 30% of New England’s food needs in the region by 2030. Commissioned by the New England State Food System Planners Partnership, a collaboration between six-level food system organizations, including the Collaborative, and Food Solutions New England, it outlines the role New Englanders can […]
read more…June 1, 2023
The Massachusetts Senate completed its budget debate in May, making some significant investments in food system needs. These include $1,000,000 for food literacy, $250,000 to continue the grant program for local food policy councils, and $1,020,000 for healthy soils. The Senate budget also increases administrative budgets for the departments of Agricultural Resources and Public Health, […]
read more…May 30, 2023
Hello, allies and advocates. I hope everyone is having a good spring. Below is an update from me, followed by one from Vivien Morris, the Collaborative’s Steering Committee chair. After more than seven years of working with all of you in my role as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, I am moving […]
read more…May 15, 2023
More than 1,000 amendments have been filed to the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means draft budget. Senators now have a week to review and consider these amendments before debating and voting on a final budget the week of May 22. Senators may choose to cosponsor as many amendments as they wish, to show […]
read more…May 1, 2023
The House Committee on Ways and Means released its FY24 budget draft and the full House of Representatives debated and passed its proposed budget at the end of April. While the debate ultimately failed to yield any new support for food system priorities, the original draft included some significant investments thanks to years of work […]
read more…April 17, 2023
More than 1,500 amendments have been filed to the Massachusetts House Committee on Ways and Means draft budget (H3900). Representatives now have a week to review and consider these amendments before debating and voting on a final budget the week of April 24. Representatives may choose to cosponsor as many amendments as they wish, to […]
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