Food access
Affordable, healthy and culturally relevant food for residents who struggle to get enough.
Residents consistently ask for affordable fresh food close to home: markets, grocery stores, pantries and fridges, gardens, and delivery.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
144 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 29 | 2.4% | 18 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 45 | 3.7% | 12 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 70 | 5.3% | 6 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Farmers markets and fresh produce markets
Residents want frequent, affordable neighborhood markets, including open-air markets like Haymarket, and in 2026-27 help paying for produce through farmers market coupons.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Food pantries, community fridges and free food sites
Residents ask for more places to get free food, including pantries, community fridges and surplus-food rescue, and later also ask that fridges be kept in working order.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Affordable community or city-run grocery stores
Residents in neighborhoods they describe as food deserts want an affordable, healthy grocery store nearby, increasingly framed as a city-owned or community-owned store.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Community gardens and growing food locally
Residents ask for funding and space to grow food in gardens, on underused land and in parks so low-income households can get fresh produce.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Bringing food to people who can't easily get it
Residents want food delivered to seniors and people with disabilities, or brought to low-income neighborhoods through mobile trucks and kiosks.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas focused on farmers markets, pantries and fridges, surplus food rescue, and funding for grassroots groups, with several neighborhood-specific asks in Brighton and Allston.
2025–26
Ideas broadened to mobile grocery trucks, community-owned grocery stores and co-ops, pay-it-forward food programs, cooking education, and concern about federal SNAP cuts.
2026–27
Ideas rose to 70 and clustered around city-owned grocery stores, especially at the Blanchards site in Allston, and adding $2 million to the farmers market coupon program.
New in 2026–27
New or growing in 2026-27 are city-owned grocery stores (with many repeated asks for the Allston Blanchards site), a $2 million increase to farmers market coupons, help enrolling in SNAP, home container gardening kits, and free meals for people experiencing homelessness.
Funding so far
Winning projects fund nonprofit food assistance, community gardens and neighborhood fresh food access, but none yet address the recurring asks for city-owned or community grocery stores, farmers market coupons and markets, or food delivery for seniors.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Expand Access to Fresh Foods
2024–25 · $400,000
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to bolster assistance programs for Boston residents facing food insecurity.
Community Gardens in Neighborhoods with Limited Affordable Food Access
2024–25 · $500,000 · related theme
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to build community gardens on underutilized land for public access and use.
Neighborhood Fresh Food Access Initiative
2025–26 · $500,000
This proposal provides funds to local organizations to increase access to healthy food in neighborhoods with higher food insecurity rates.
Departments that often lead this work
- Office of Food Justice
- Boston Public Health Commission
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Food access
144 ideas
2024–25: 29 · 2025–26: 45 · 2026–27: 70
- Nutrition and cooking classes for seniorsResident asks for classes teaching low, middle and working seniors to eat healthy on limited incomes, stretch meals and store food, possibly taught by hospital or college staff.2024–25City-wide
- More fresh, affordable food for all residentsResident asks for more fresh or lower-priced food options and financial help so everyone gets quality food, helping reduce illnesses tied to processed products.2024–25Hyde ParkSubmitted in Spanish
- More food pantries across BostonResident asks for more food pantries in the city so everyone has equal access to food.2024–25City-wide
- Provide high-quality food during school year and summerResident asks for high-quality food to be given out during the school year and summer.2024–25City-wide
- Donate surplus restaurant and grocery food to those in needCollect food that restaurants and grocery stores would throw away and donate it to food banks, shelters and other places in need, to reduce waste and promote equity.2024–25City-wide
- Food and resource stands for people in needSet up food stands and resource stands for people in need, giving them nutrition and resources for future opportunities like employment.2024–25East Boston
- Food pantry delivery for seniors and disabled residentsPartner food pantries with DoorDash to deliver food to seniors and disabled people who cannot reach food assistance programs.2024–25City-wide
- Affordable fresh food in BrightonMake fresh fruit and food more affordable and improve food resources in the Brighton area so it is affordable for everyone.2024–25Brighton
- Access to organic, non-bioengineered food in inner-city neighborhoodsResident says inner-city grocery stores mostly sell bioengineered foods and better options are far away, especially for those without transportation in Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury.2024–25City-wide
- Covered structure for Haymarket farmers marketThe resident asks for a roofed, open-sided structure with heating and electricity at Haymarket so the farmers market can operate comfortably in rain or cold.2024–25Downtown
- Fresher food in city programs and free cooking lessonsThe resident asks for fresher, more varied fruits and vegetables in city food programs and free cooking lessons at community centers, to help those who can't afford better food.2024–25City-wide
- Repurpose imperfect produce from marketsThe resident proposes using cosmetically imperfect fruits and vegetables from local and chain markets, teaching communities to repurpose food and giving access to fresh produce.2024–25City-wide
- Address food insecurityThe resident says food is needed to survive, attend school and work, and asks for action on food insecurity.2024–25City-wide
- Access to foodThe resident asks for better access to food, linking the issue to social and racial inequity.2024–25City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Year-round farmers market in Oak Square vacant storefrontsResident asks for a year-round farmers market and local dairy and meat share in vacant Oak Square storefronts, partnering with local farms, to address a food desert.2024–25Brighton
- Public kitchens and food centers in DorchesterCreate more public kitchens and food centers, especially in Dorchester, offering fresh, healthier, less processed food and more ingredient choices.2024–25City-wide
- Supermarket gift cards for local food pantriesSuggests buying $2 million in $50 supermarket gift cards for neighborhood food pantries to distribute, requiring little city labor since nonprofits would do the work.2024–25City-wide
- Evening farmers market in AllstonResident asks for an Allston farmers market with hours outside the 9-5 workday, possibly at Jackson Mann, Ringer Park or the Esplanade, to improve healthy food access and support small businesses.2024–25Allston
- Fund grassroots groups feeding food-insecure neighborsResident asks for funding for community-led groups like FAVOR in Roslindale that feed food-insecure residents and build neighborhood connections beyond what major food banks offer.2024–25City-wide
- Regular neighborhood farmers markets and craft salesResident asks for weekly or biweekly farmers markets and craft sales in neighborhoods.2024–25City-wide