Massachusetts lawmakers are beginning to debate how to best invest billions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). They need to hear from YOU about the importance of supporting a resilient local food system. Last year, the Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program received more than $200 million in requests for funding from […]
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Our food system, like our country, was constructed within a systemically racist framework. As healthy food relies on healthy soil, a healthy food system relies on practices based on an understanding of this framework and a commitment to dismantling it.
read more…Do you want to: Understand how to read legislation? Learn advocacy tips to help bills get passed? Help build advocacy efforts around key bills? Then join the Collaborative for our upcoming series of Advocacy 102 sessions on key local food system bills under consideration in the Massachusetts Legislature. The Zoom-based workshops begin on April 22 […]
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Check out responses from candidates to the Collaborative’s questionnaire here! The local food system relies on wise public policy to function well. Laws and regulations about land, natural resources, health and safety, and other issues all impact how sustainable and equitable our food system is, as do public investments in programs. Across the food chain, […]
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While the state limits the authority of municipalities to take action on certain issues, such as zoning, municipalities have significant power over their local food system – property taxes, public water and sewer systems, public school systems, local public health measures, public works and public safety all fall under a municipality’s jurisdiction to regulate. The value in municipal-level work to support the food system is significant.
read more…In response to the spread of COVID-19 and the measures being taken to address it, the Collaborative has compiled this list of readings and resources to keep the MA food system community informed and aware of relevant actions and activities. If you know of additional items that should be included, please send them to winton@mafoodsystem.org. (Items […]
read more…These materials were presented at the November 2019 MA Food System Forum. Keynote (Dr. Becca Jablonski): Tensions and Trade-offs in Food System Work Lobbying for Nonprofits workshop (Allen Mattison): Strategic Advocacy Lobbying Basics Permissible Issue Advocacy vs. Prohibited Campaign Intervention Using the Section 501(h) Lobbying Definitions
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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…More than 80 advocates, farmers, and SNAP recipients participated in HIP Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House on March 1, meeting with legislators and staff to educate them about the Healthy Incentives Program and the need for ongoing funding to support it. The Program provides a dollar-for-dollar match for SNAP dollars spent on fruits […]
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After more than two years of planning and development, the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) issued its first incentives in April, and has already far surpassed expected participation. In addition, the Massachusetts Legislature and governor, recognizing the importance of the program, made a significant investment in HIP in the State’s FY’18 budget. This statewide program offers […]
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