Massachusetts and regional food businesses invited to join 2025 Local Food Count
The Local Food Count regional campaign invites retailers, grocers, institutions, distributors, food hubs, and restaurants to help strengthen local food systems by tracking local food purchasing and sales.
Food and beverage establishments and organizations across Massachusetts and New England are invited to participate in the upcoming 2025 Local Food Count, a regional effort to measure how much local food they buy and sell within the six state region.
The Local Food Count is part of the New England Feeding New England (NEFNE) initiative, which aims to strengthen the region’s food system and increase local food sourcing. By participating, restaurants, schools, distributors, grocers and other food and beverage buyers and sellers headquartered in New England help identify purchasing patterns and uncover opportunities to grow local food procurement across the region.
All data submitted will be kept confidential and used only in aggregate to inform regional planning. Food related establishments are encouraged to take a pledge to confirm their commitment to the Local Food Count. Pledge materials, prep worksheets, and past results are available online to help get ready for data collection in January 2026, with results shared later in the year.
Background
The MA Food System Collaborative and MDAR are members of the New England Food System Planners Partnership (NEFSPP), a collaboration between seven state-level food system organizations and representatives from the six-state agricultural, economic and environmental departments in New England. New England Feeding New England (NEFNE) is the Partnership’s primary initiative and aims to have 30 percent of the food produced in New England consumed in the region by 2030 nefoodsystemplanners.org.
For more information: Kristina Pechulis, Kristina@mafoodsystem.org; Bonita.Oehlke@mass.gov; Julianne.Stelmaszyk@mass.gov