Food Security in Western Mass

In the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts food security is a prominent concern. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts hosts a lecture every month on food issues to help bring attention and educate people on the issue. Despite the apparent excess of fast food, and quick service restaurants in the United States this representation seems to be more of a façade. It is hiding the underlying problem of a lack of affordable, healthy food sources for people across the nation. In 2009, food stamp use rose to about 10 million recipients with one in four of those people being children. The number of households in the United States estimated to experience the consequences of food insecurity was 11.1 percent in 2007 and rose to 14.6 percent in 2008, affecting an estimated total 35.5 million people. Even more shocking is that half of these people are children. The issue is clear; the only problem we face is that a sustainable, long-term solution is not quite as simple.

Some of the specific challenges the Western Massachusetts Region faces is the correlation between race and lack of food security as well as obesity. A demonstration of the current lack of healthy food sources in Springfield brought light to the issue. UMass Food Science professor Kalidas Shetty is working with two other undergraduates at the university to study and devise a strategy to provide primarily African- American residents of Springfield with healthy foods. Shetty’s research team worked with local farmers to provide 120 boxes of carrots, squash, turnips, potatoes and onions at below-market prices to these families. They then asked the recipients to complete a survey in which they listed their favorite fruits and vegetables and their concerns about food insecurity. The thirty-one families that responded noted that “limited access to and affordability of fresh fruits and vegetables were major obstacles for them”. It was also noted that more dialogue between farmers and inner-city dwellers is needed to improve access to high-quality fresh food.

Western Massachusetts is home to a variety of positive assets, including a large number of local farms and innovative farmers, collaboration with UMass Amherst, the Nutrition Extension Program and other area colleges, plus communities committed to improving food security in the region. Community farming and education in sustainability is increasing the involvement in the issue as more innovative concepts to support food security within the region are being developed.