Tell your legislators to vote in support of H.735/S.392, An Act To Promote Food Literacy/An Act Relative to Food Literacy. This bill would have the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provide food literacy standards, curriculum, professional development, and consultation, funded by a newly established Food Literacy Trust Fund.

As detailed in the 2022 MA Food System Collaborative Report, "Food Literacy in Massachusetts," food system education is a critical component in students' lives. The benefits of learning about the food system at a young age include:

· Environmental Stewardship: School garden beds foster a connection to nature, inspiring students to protect the environment.

· Local Food System Workforce Development: With the average farmer's age at 59.8 and a predominantly white demographic (SFPC’s 2021 Southeastern MA Food System Assessment), our region needs more skilled individuals in food production, processing, transport, and sales to build a robust, self-sustaining food system.

· Improved Healthy Eating Habits: Most children and families lack adequate nutrition education (less than 8 hours annually nationwide in 2014, per CDC), contributing to high rates of obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases. Learning about nutrition and food preparation is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Paul Costa, a Marion Institute's Grow Education FoodCorps member, shared, "People have lost the knowledge of how to grow food, the connection of soil to food, and lost respect for the environment. The children I interact with have no idea where food comes from. After learning about how to plant garlic, I heard a student say, 'I can do something only my grandparents know how to do.' With the cost of living increasing, having the skills and knowledge to grow your food is essential. After learning about bees one day, the kids talked about being beekeepers for days."

Contact your State Representative and Senator to urge them to support (H.735/S.392) An Act To Promote Food Literacy!

To call or email your state legislators, fill out the short form on the right.

Thank you!

The Marion Institute's Southcoast Food Policy Council Team