The Pioneer Valley is fortunate to have an extremely well organized and highly functioning regional food system that addresses both food insecurity and development of a sustainable food system through long-standing, successful efforts by groups with a regional vision such as the Food Bank of Western Mass and the not for profit advocacy organization Community Involved Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). Additionally, community-based governmental and non-governmental initiatives such as Nuestras Raíces in Holyoke, the Springfield Food Policy Council, Grow Food Northampton, Gardening the Community, and others, work on these pressing issues at the local level.

The purpose of the Pioneer Valley Food Security Plan is to add value to these existing efforts by accurately describing the existing system, highlighting best practices, identifying any gaps, and facilitating regional consensus on how to close these gaps and advance the creation of a sustainable regional food system. Members of the Advisory Committee who helped develop the plan perceive its usefulness as a strategic action document that clearly articulates the region’s top priorities for action on food security/food sovereignty issues and identifies primary implementers as well as sources of funds for implementation.