This 2017 assessment, completed by Healthy Hampshire in partnership with Cooley Dickinson and several community members, established 17 priorities to improve the Hampshire County food system. The top priority identified was:

Establish a  food  policy  council  for  Hampshire County  or  a  subset  of  communities  that prioritizes leadership from  people  who  experience  food insecurity  in Hampshire County.  Link  with  similar  efforts in neighboring  counties. Use the  food policy  council  structure  to:   

• Support  organizations and movements  for  and  by  low-income  people that advocate  for greater  attention  to  the  reality  of  who  is  poor  and  what  they  experience,  with  a particular focus  on  affordable  housing  tenant  organizing  efforts.   

• Continue  to  build connections  with  people  of  color  in Hampshire County, especially  black and Hispanic/Latino  residents,  who  experience disproportionately  high  rates  of  chronic disease,  so  that  food access  efforts are  guided  by  and reflect their  needs.