Our Policy Prioritizes
The SFPC policy priorities are driven by our understanding of local need and our work statewide to improve the Massachusetts Food System in collaboration with the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative.
An Act Relative to Urban Farmland Bill SD.1093 & Bill HD.1872
These bills aim to support the conversion of vacant lots and underutilized land in environmental justice communities into urban farms, community gardens, and other agricultural enterprises. Urban agriculture supports increased economic development, food security, and climate and heat resilience.
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An Act Promoting Equity in Agriculture Resolve SD.1015 & Bill HD.2703
According to the 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture, BIPOC farmers are represented on only 3% of the Commonwealth’s farms, farms that steward just .3% of the land in farming and sell just .4% of the market value of agricultural goods in the Massachusetts, despite people of color making up 32% of the state’s population. These bills will establish a commission charged with developing recommendations for MDAR to equitably serve socially disadvantaged farmers to address these disparities.
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An Act Relative to an Agricultural Healthy Incentives Program Bill SD.829 & Bill HD.2197
The Healthy Incentives Program leverages federal SNAP funds by increasing SNAP recipients’ ability to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables directly from farmers, improving health outcomes for vulnerable communities and increasing sales for local farms. These bills will establish the framework for the program’s long-term sustainability.