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Access to healthy food can be a challenge in many inner core and regional urban center communities, where food access is more likely through local convenience stores and fast food restaurants than large supermarkets and farmers markets. 

16)    Establish a Food Policy Council
Access to healthy food is an increasing concern around the region, and one that transcends municipal boundaries.  Community food security, a concept which encompasses greater food self-reliance and sustainable community development, among other priorities, is an important consideration in MetroFuture, and demands more thought and planning.  Several states and regions nationwide have created Food Policy Councils, tasked with doing just that.  These Councils are comprised of stakeholders in the region or state’s food system, as well as government officials, and are generally tasked with examining the operation of the system and providing ideas and recommendations for improvement through public policy change.

16.a    The Legislature should establish a Massachusetts Food Policy Council

17)    Use financing and regulatory tools to bring supermarkets and healthy food outlets to underserved areas
While there are some resources available on a state and local level for new development that can be used to finance the creation of new supermarkets, many are available only for certain types of development, or for development in certain areas – historical buildings, for example – and, as a result, these financing sources do not meet the needs of developers in all places in need of grocery stores.  Even when developers are able to secure the financing they need to open a new store, moving into an underserved neighborhood can be a risky and expensive undertaking.  Providing developers with incentives can help to offset these negatives and make development more appealing. 

17.a    The Massachusetts Office of Business Development should develop an “Urban Supermarket Initiative”

18)    Expand offerings of existing markets
Large supermarkets cannot be supported in every neighborhood, but there are other, smaller-scale options available to ensure that residents of even the poorest neighborhoods.  Assisting the owners of the local corner markets or convenience stores that populate urban neighborhoods trade their alcohol or snack foods in for perishable foods, or supplement the former with the latter.  There are a variety of creative ways for the Commonwealth to explore programs to offer financing and technical assistance to encourage local entrepreneurs to stock fresh produce.   The Massachusetts Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship should function as a connector for small businesses interested in adding produce to their lineups and assistance and financing. 

19)    Expand participation in the WIC program
Currently, the Federal Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offers coupons to families that qualify for its program to use at farmers markets in 36 states, including Massachusetts, through its Farmers Market Nutrition Program.  The Commonwealth also pioneered this approach through its Farmers Market Coupon Program, the statewide model for the National program.  These programs’ vouchers are provided in addition to families’ normal benefits and can be treated as cash at the stands of participating farmers, who then redeem the coupons for cash.  While the satisfaction of those who participate in the program is high, it is only available in small amounts of money to small numbers of people. 

19.a    The Department of Public Health and the Department of Agricultural Resources should expand the Farmers Market Coupon Program