Tony Chaves

City/Township Council · Cambridge

All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

This candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.

Food Systems & Security

In the context of growing pressure for economic development and the connected loss of farmland, what role do municipalities and the Region hold in promoting local food livelihoods, production, and processing?ranked from highest to lowest importance

Promote and support low-barrier spaces for local producers to distribute and sell food
Partner with other levels of government to develop local food hubs that reduce costs and barriers for small businesses
Develop a local food strategy, including research on how land-use change affects the food system
Encourage and support local landowners to rent to newcomer farmers
Leave local food livelihoods to the private market

How should municipalities and the Region approach food insecurity and affordability?select up to 3 per part

A. Access to food

Partner with local charities, non-profits, and other organizations to strengthen access to food and redistribution of surplus food and produce for low-income residents
Support local food procurement for school food programs, including processing/preparation infrastructure, food literacy, and youth learning opportunities
Support programs to prepare food for those who are unhoused or unable to cook

B. Access to land for growing food

Make public lands (Regional and municipal) available for sustenance food provisioning, including in urban and peri-urban spaces as cities expand
Enable access to land and resources for local people who want to grow their own food (e.g. the community-garden model)
Encourage and support private landowners to make lots available for food provisioning

Please describe one concrete policy, program, or decision you would support to strengthen the local food system.candidate's own words

One concrete policy I would support is creating more low-barrier spaces where local farmers, food producers, and small businesses can sell their products directly to residents. The City and Region should work with local producers, community organizations, and other levels of government to identify suitable public spaces for farmers’ markets and other local food markets, while keeping participation affordable and accessible for smaller producers. Supporting local food production and sales can help strengthen local businesses, give residents more access to locally produced food, and keep more of the economic benefit within our community. Any program should be developed with clear costs and measurable results so we are being responsible with taxpayer dollars.

Would you like to provide any additional context for your views on food systems?candidate's own words

A strong local food system supports both residents and our local economy. As Cambridge and the Region continue to grow, we should look for practical ways to support local farmers, food producers, small businesses, and community organizations. Municipalities can help by making it easier for local producers to access markets, supporting community gardens and local food initiatives, and working with partners to reduce barriers for smaller businesses. At the same time, we need to balance growth with protecting agricultural land and making responsible land-use decisions. Supporting local food should be about practical partnerships and measurable results while being mindful of costs to taxpayers.