Food System Budget Priorities – Ensuring Foundational Food System Programs are Funded Annually

 

There are a great deal of programs in the MA state budget. State agencies and other organizations manage these programs, which are critical to supporting the entire food system in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Here is the list we have identified as priorities for the SFPC:

Healthy Incentives Program

The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) provides additional money depending on household size for recipients of SNAP (Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) to buy vegetables and fruit from local farmers.

Food Literacy

The Food Literacy bill, through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), will support food literacy standards K-12 that help students learn about topics such as nutrition, food production, and the connection between the environment and the food system, as well as develop culinary skills and explore careers in the food system.

Mass Farm to School

The Mass Farm to School refers to the Farm-to-School FRESH (Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health) grant that allows school systems in MA to buy more local food, build infrastructure such as a commercial kitchen to make culturally relevant food purchased from a local farm, or raised garden beds to help children learn how to grow food and understand food nutrition.

An Act Encouraging the Donation of Food to Persons in Need

Encouraging the Donation of Food to Persons in Need would through Governor Healey’s the FY26 Supplemental Budget HD.5607, includes $5,000 tax credit for farm businesses who donate food to non-profit food distribution points. According to the Greater Boston Food Bank 2024 Food Equity and Access report, 1 in 3 individuals, are food insecure.  Farmers in MA are often on SNAP because they are making 96 cents on the dollar. This funding would help both the farming and food insecure communities.

Local Food Policy Councils

The Local Food Policy Council grants provide over 15 councils the ability to address local food system challenges through advocacy of good food policies, strategic planning, convening, research and creating new programs to address regional needs.

UMass Extension

UMass Extension (The University of Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment) provides research, education, and technical assistance to nearly 6,000 farmers and natural resource-based businesses, and provides nutrition education across the state.

MDAR staffing

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is the state’s smallest agency, ensuring our food is safe, our local food economy is resilient, and agricultural resources are stewarded to enhance our environment and build sustainability for our food system. The staff writes and manages grants for agriculture and food system needs, provides resources and technical assistance with regulations, and helps farmers respond to emergencies and threats.

Buy Local Agricultural Organizations

Buy Local Agricultural Organizations connect farmers and people, often managing farmers’ markets, providing resources and technical assistance for farmers, generating consumer awareness of where to buy local foods, and advocating for good food policies.

Massachusetts Food Trust

The Massachusetts Food Trust provides loans, grants, and business organizations serving low-income, underserved areas to increase access to locally caught or harvested food in Massachusetts.

MA Emergency Food Assistance Program 

The Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) funds a consistent supply of nutrient-dense and local food to the four Food Banks in the state that provide food to over 894 food pantries.

Mass in Motion

Mass in Motion is a state program promoting opportunities for healthy eating and active living, using equity data as the driving force for a healthy community.

How You Can Help

Sustained funding for Massachusetts’ food system programs depends on public support. You can help by:

• Contacting your state legislators to advocate for food system investments

• Submitting testimony or signing advocacy letters during budget season

• Engaging with your local Food Policy Council to support regional priorities

• Supporting local farmers and food access programs in your community

• Sharing data and stories that show the real impact of these programs

Small actions—especially when taken together—help ensure these foundational programs are funded year after year.