Food lies at the intersection of many of our most pressing problems: the obesity epidemic, soaring healthcare costs, a faltering economy, and climate change. By creating a healthier local food system that is integrated within a sustainable regional food system, we can begin to tackle some of these issues. A sustainable food system is more decentralized, produces food in a manner that does not deplete but rather builds precious soil, uses water and energy efficiently and protects water resources. It is a system that values and protects the agricultural labor force, keeps more food dollars in the local economy, and broadens access to fresh healthy food for all. And, it is a system that will help us adapt to the already changing climate we now inhabit.
Boston can begin to produce locally more of the food Bostonians consume, and it can become an increasingly important hub in the development of a strong New England regional food system.