MDAR seeks to continue the purchase and distribution of locally grown, produced, and processed food from socially disadvantaged farmers, producers, and businesses to address injustices inherent in the current food system. Currently, the MDAR LFPA program has executed contracts with Massachusetts organizations focused on the purchase and distribution of local goods and has systems in place to identify and partner with socially disadvantaged farmers to maximize the amount of goods purchased from these producers. Target audiences for the project include farmers, with special consideration to, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), Environmental Justice communities, and socially disadvantaged populations. While the projects from the initial round of LFPA are still in their infancy, new connections have already been formed between institutional buyers and self-identified socially disadvantaged farmers and producers. Additionally, through a collaborative regional model, MDAR can leverage existing infrastructure, knowledge and expertise from established partners and channels across the Commonwealth. As connections are formed between regional Buy Local organizations, community kitchens, food banks and pantries, food hubs, and emergency food organizations and socially disadvantaged farmers, MDAR can glean valuable information which will support the connections formed to last beyond the life of the grant, in addition to future funding and food purchasing opportunities. The expected reach of the project will be 75 new (additional) farmers, producers, and/or businesses, of which at least 40 are anticipated to be socially disadvantaged, and additional interested parties, with a distribution reach of approximately 100,000 individuals.
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