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Witnesses urge commission, data collection to address racial and immigrant inequities in Massachusetts agriculture
Summary
Speakers at the Joint Committee on Agriculture hearing urged passage of H.111/S.53 and related bills to create an agricultural equity commission, collect race‑and‑demographic data on farmers, improve land and capital access for BIPOC and immigrant farmers, and add state fisheries representation to the Mass. Food Policy Council.
House Chair Natalie Blaine and Sen. Dylan Fernandez convened the joint hearing to take testimony on H.111/S.53, a resolve promoting equity in agriculture, and several companion bills that would expand representation and supports for underserved farmers.
The testimony came from nonprofit leaders, regional partners and farmers who described barriers to land, credit and representation. "People of color make up 32% of the population in Massachusetts yet BIPOC farmers represent less than 3% of the farmers in the state," said Becca Miller, policy director for the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. Miller also urged adding a Department of Fish and Game designee to the Massachusetts Food Policy Council, supporting H.130/S.52 to broaden…
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