Press Release: 8/17/2026
More than 35 state legislative candidates respond to food and agriculture survey
For Immediate Release
August 17, 2026
Media Contact: Rebecca Miller
Boston, MA - More than thirty-five candidates for state legislative offices responded to a survey on potential solutions to issues facing Massachusetts' local food system. Incumbents and first-time candidates shared their thoughts on food insecurity, climate change, food waste reduction, equity in the food system, and food literacy. Responses come from candidates across the Commonwealth, from Cape Cod to Hampden county.
In the survey, candidates shared their lived experience with hunger, exciting new policy ideas, and demonstrated a willingness to learn more about the issues facing Massachusetts’ food system today.
At a time when, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham’s research, 40% of Massachusetts residents faced food insecurity in the last year, SNAP is becoming less accessible due to policy restrictions, farmers face many challenges from input costs to labor availability, and food safety recalls are almost a weekly occurrence, food system policy is on voters’ minds.
To review the responses, visit: https://mafoodsystem.org/our-work/projects/massachusetts-elections/
About the
The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative was founded after the completion and acceptance of the 2015 Local Food Action Plan. The Collaborative’s mission is to support collective action toward an equitable, sustainable, resilient, and connected local food system in Massachusetts. As a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Collaborative cannot and will not make any endorsements in any race.