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 in a dollar-for-dollar match.

Food Security Infrastructure Grants

The Food Security Infrastructure Grant program provides farmers, commercial fishermen, food processors, food aggregators, food pantries, community organizations serving food, and urban and community gardens money to increase the physical infrastructure to serve people more local food and build resiliency to shocks in the food system.

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.

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.

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

• Advocate – Contact your State Rep and State Senator to support these food system budget programs and use the “Take Action” button to send an advocacy letter via the Action Network.
• Educate – Learn more about the MA Budget for Advocates by sharing your knowledge and advocacy efforts with people in your community. Host discussions or informal sessions to spread awareness. Utilize social media to elevate and amplify important food systems issues.