Estimates are that some 90% of our food supply is from outside of New England. Can that information be verified? Can we increase the amount of food produced and consumed within the region?
The Local Food Count is a part of New England Feeding New England (NEFNE), a program of the New England Food System Planners Partnership. A standard and proven methodology of data collection and analysis will be used to account for local food purchased and sold within one calendar year. The results will serve as a mechanism to measure progress toward the NEFNE Goal: to grow, raise, catch and produce “30% of New England’s food from within New England by 2030.” Find the full NEFNE report here.
Local food purchasing supports farmers and food businesses, protects our local food supply chain, and improves access to fresh, nutritious food. These purchases in turn play a vital role in shaping a resilient, sustainable food system and local economy.
Massachusetts and the other New England States are part of the Local Food Counts Project. The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative and MDAR are working together to support this effort. This regional initiative is designed to measure how much food is sourced locally by distributors, schools, hospitals, supermarkets, restaurants, among others.
The data collected will help food system advocates, food businesses, policy makers and other stakeholders understand current purchasing patterns and identify opportunities to increase local sourcing in the future. The collective effort can serve as a benchmark for future progress.
At this time, the Massachusetts team is working to build awareness of the project and identify contacts within businesses responsible for purchasing. In early 2026, purchasing managers will be asked to complete a one-page worksheet, based on purchases from 2025. Responses will be confidential and aggregated, provided only to the project researcher.
For more information: Kristina@mafoodsystem.org; Julianne.Stelmaszyk@mass.gov; Bonita.Oehlke@mass.gov
Read the Massachusetts state brief here, published in fall 2023.
