Southcoast Food Policy Council Working Groups

Policy Working Group

The Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC) is a coalition of nearly 400 community partners representing farmers, fishermen, food pantry leaders, churches, social service agencies, schools, institutional buyers, and a diverse group of partner organizations throughout the Southcoast of Massachusetts from Plymouth to Fall River.

We envision a thriving, inclusive, and culturally diverse regional food system in which we all benefit from healthful, accessible, and affordable foods. Our mission is to connect, convene, and advocate for local food producers, consumers, and community partners who seek to generate policies and practices that strengthen our regional food system, enhance food security, and promote health equity.

The food system impacts and is influenced by various other factors and systems, including the environment, public health, and the economy. These, in turn, are reflective of varying levels of policy, which is often the expression of a society’s culture and values. While complex, food policy councils must consider these multi-faceted, interdependent relationships as they consider food and agriculture-related policies and programs. To create a food system that works for everyone, we must address policy and decision-making at all levels.

The SFPC Community Advisory Board (CAB), comprised of 25+ food system stakeholders, along with the Food Equity Advisors (people with lived experience of food insecurity), will ensure plans and advocacy actions taken are community-driven and outcome-based to benefit the entire region equitably and sustainably.

The SFPC Policy Working Group’s long terms plans include having a group of lawmakers and community members engaged in supporting food system policies resulting in a thriving and equitable food system.

Short-term goals:

• Advocate for the permanent funding of the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).
• Advocate for Equity in Agriculture and other equitable food policies.
• Advocate for the permanent funding of the Farm to School grant program.
• Advocate for medically tailored food programs and pre-made food to be covered by SNAP.
• Advocate for the standardization of food labeling for MA.
• Advocate for the Food System Budget funding priorities.
• Utilize coalition information and advocacy to inform our actions.
• Identify legislative champions and strategize how to build support in Southeastern MA.
• Provide testimony and letters of support.
• Engage the community in legislative advocacy campaigns.
• Host Candidate Forums in state-level election cycles on food system issues.

Application to join a Working Group. You will be contacted after you send in your application to sfpc@marioninstitute.org.

Send us your thoughts or questions to spfc@marioninstitute.org or call 508-748-0816 x110.