Food systems refer to the paths that food travels through from inputs to production, distribution, processing, consumption, and waste management ( Huddart et al, 2018) . They include all the processes involved in feeding a population. Some of the benefits of food systems and food hubs is helping farmers to sell in wholesale rather than in retail. They hence have improved prices and many employment opportunities are created ( Huddart et al, 2018) . The most important requirements associated with food systems are the infrastructures involved such as the forklifts, warehouses, and tractors
What are the opportunities and challenges for creating a more localized food system in the state of MA?
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According to the Massachusetts local food action plan, some of the opportunities for creating a more localized food system in the state include the development of markets where the product can be sold to, the creation of employment and the improvement of the living conditions of people in the state of Massachusetts ( Alliance, 2015) . Some of the challenges include having sufficient infrastructure to conduct all the necessary farming affairs and a market base for the sale of all the produce.
Which of the 'key actions' that are recommended for the 1st goal: "Increase production, sales, and consumption of Massachusetts-grown foods." on pg. 3-4 do you think are the most important and why?
The most important key actions of making sure that the 1st goal of achieving increased production are as follows; Improve food processing infrastructure, provide resources for farming and market Massachusetts-produced food more effectively. These actions are the main important ones since they focus on making sure that farmers have enough to produce and at the same time there is a readily available market that has smooth food systems as well as the small business growing rapidly meaning that the market base increases thus providing an increase in sales and consumption.
Choose one of the other goals (goal 2, 3 or 4) from the plan, summarize the goal and discuss why you chose this goal to focus on
The second goal of creating jobs and economic opportunities in food and farming together with improving the wages and the skills of the food system workers focuses on having required support food system businesses. Workers, and consumers together with the necessary technical assistance, the funding for development of the necessary infrastructure are also taken into consideration and the economic outcomes of the business is also put into consideration ( Alliance, 2015) .
The reason for choosing this goal is the great interest in evaluating the impact of farmers carrying out their farming practices on the economy. Do they boost the economy and how many people get to benefit from the farming practices in the state?
References
Alliance, M. W. Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 2015. Massachusetts Local Food Action Plan .
Huddart Kennedy, E., Parkins, J. R., & Johnston, J. (2018). Food activists, consumer strategies, and the democratic imagination: Insights from eat-local movements. Journal of Consumer Culture , 18 (1), 149-168.
