Creating the Massachusetts food policy council

This law creates the Massachusetts Food Policy Council to develop recommendations to advance food system goals for the commonwealth. These goals include, e.g., increasing production, sales and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods; and developing and promoting “programs that deliver healthy Massachusetts-grown foods to Massachusetts residents,” through programs such as: “(i) targeted state subsidies; (ii) increased state purchasing of local products for school and summer meals and other child and adult care programs; (iii) double coupon initiatives; (iv) direct market subsidies to communities with identified needs,” etc. Pursuant to the law, the council may accept and expend funds for projects consistent with its purpose, including but not limited to, the development of a strategic food policy plan. Such funds shall be administered by the department of agricultural resources. The law also specifies the makeup of the Council, and of an advisory committee to the council, which must include, among others, a representative of “an organization engaged in developing new farm businesses, urban and community supported agriculture, community gardening, immigrant and refugee farming or youth education through agriculture.”